help needed: timing belt tension

[dbales]

So I had to replace my water pump on my cb7 and everything was going smoothly until it came time to adjust tension on the timing belt.

I've read a hundred times over to rotate the crank counter-clockwise until you get 3 teeth away from where it was.

My misunderstanding is how you can turn the crank CCW. I've tried this but all I seem to do is loosen the crank pulley bolt.

I can turn the crank pulley by hand slightly both CW and CCW but it doesn't move the cam at all. If I turn it CW it tightens the front side of the timing belt.

There's probably some slight detail I'm overlooking or just not getting. I just cant see how I can turn the crank CCW without loosening the crank bolt.

[oyajicool]

I'm sure you'd have to torque down the pulley bolt to proper spec before that step.

[sonikaccord]

Tighten it enough to be able to turn the engine without loosening the pulley.

Also, make sure your spark plugs are out so you aren't fighting compression.

[wagon-r]

I think the torque spec for the crankshaft bolt is something like 180 ft-lbs. If you torque it to spec, it will not loosen when you turn it CCW.