I am in the middle of a timing belt change and have been stopped cold. I can't fit the new timing belt because it is too tight going over the tensioner pulley. I would almost say it is too short but I tried refitting the old belt and it seemed to be too short as well.

What am I doing wrong?

The old tensioner is okay and I pinned it and loosely bolted it in place.

I changed the tensioner pulley and the idler pulley as well as the belt.

Whenever I look at a video or set of instructions the belt seems to slip on easily. Not so mine.

I got under the car and made sure the belt is running properly on the crankshaft gear--it is not hanging up on anything.

I draw the new belt up from the crankshaft, past the idler pulley and around the intake sprocket, trying to get it as tight as possible.

I then run it over the two sprockets and down to the water pump.

Up to the tensioner pulley. But here I cannot pull the belt over the pulley.

Should I need to lever it over the pulley? Or is there some crucial step I am not seeing?

frustratedly,

Bob