I have a 94 Mazda B2300 SOHC 2.3 liter engine I am tuning up and doing a timing belt change. I am to the point where I have all the plugs out and am trying to rotate the engine to find TDC. I noticed the timing belt has a pretty good amount of slack where it winds around on the right when I am facing the engine but otherwise seems tight the rest of the way around. My issue is I am not able to rotate the engine using a socket on the crankshaft bolt more than about 90 degrees before I feel a good amount of resistance. This happens going either way. I am pretty sure I read the correct way is clockwise. The engine was running on 3 cylinders the last time I shut it off but was running. I am pretty sure this is a non interference engine. What could be causing the resistance and how would you troubleshoot it? I'm thinking the timing belt may have skipped a tooth or two or there is something bad wrong. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

I am maybe not such a big an idiot as you are going to think I am because at least it did just "come to me" driving home from work tonight. Stupid thing is in gear. Uhhh! Duh -)

Well, Nobody on the vids or in the book said to take the damn thing out of gear. But any idiot would know to do that. -) Oh well, turns fine several rotations now so no problem. Anyway, maybe my stupid post will help someone else down the road.

 

I like it, thanks for the update

 

Actually it did mention first thing in the Haynes manual to put the truck in neutral. :

 

Hey it happens sometimes on a bigger project its easy to skip the simple steps.