I'm finishing up doing the head gaskets on a 96 Outback 2.5. I got the timing sprockets all lined up, put the belt on and when I released the tensioner pin the left exhaust sprocket jumped 2 spaces. Are the the double marks on the sprocket suppose to be still aligned after the release of the tenisioner?

 

The belt seamed to be tighter between the crank and the left intake sprocket. The belt was quite loose on the bottom between the left and right exhaust sprockets. Is this how it should be or is there something wrong here?

Belt needs to be tight all the way around before installing the tensioner, and the only slack should be between the upper left (drivers side) sprocket and the crank sprocket.

 

Remove the belt and reset.

from what I've read, anytime you re-compress a soob tensioner, it's best to do it EXTREMELY slowly. Like in a vise over many minutes in tiny increments.

I figured things weren't right. I wanted to be sure before trying to start the engine. I was getting tired and cold so I called it a day. I don't have heat in the shop and it started snowing about half an hour later.

When I compressed the tensioner, I used a 8" C clamp and it took a couple minute to get it to where I could get the pin inserted.

Hopefully it will warm up a bit tomorrow and I can get it finished.