Did my first solo timing belt change on the weekend and used the rope trick with great success. TDC for cylinder #1 on the compression stroke is really easy to find - I was surprised the volume of air that gets pushed out of the spark plug hole. The crank pulley bolt was really on there - I used a 1/2" ratchet with a 3' piece of pipe as an extension. I was nervous about doing the seals myself, so just did the camshaft one - it was the only one that was obviously leaking so I thought I'd use it as my guinea pig. I used 2 adjustable wrenches at 90 degrees to each other to hold the camshaft gear still while I removed the bolt. I had trouble getting the old seal out, I ended up drilling a small hole through it , then using a screwdriver to pry it, just like the picture in my Bentley. I greased up the new one and tapped it on using a piece of ABS pipe as a guide - it went on a bit crooked, but was too far on to remove it and try again, so I tapped it harder on one side and straightened it out. I'm pretty sure I didn't roll the lip, but only time will tell if a leak develops - nothing so far, but I've only run it for a few minutes. It took me a liesurely 4 hrs including clean up, I think I could do the belt only in a couple of hours. Overall a very satisfying experience, its success due in no small part to the wisdom of this board.

Ron
93 245 ~320,00km
near Brantford, ON, Can