Wait a second. Before removing the timing belt there is no physical way you could bolt the crank and cam locking tools into position if the cam tool isn't adjusted into the correct position. It's just occurred to me that you may have missed an important step. The Beta tool is adjustable. That's a good thing. The one in my shop was originally set for a 500 Abarth. That same setting works perfectly on my 124. Of course if yours is adjusted for a car that's different (maybe the MiTo, Punto, or other euro models are different, I have no idea) then yes it would be different, but there isn't any way you could end up in that situation assuming you put the locking tool on before removing the timing belt.
It sounds to me like what you may have done is taken out the factory cam without adjusting the tool. I think you then used a non adjusted tool to install the new cam. That's the only way you could have installed the cam with the timing off. If that's your situation, you need to set the tool correctly. This is a bit of mess at this point. If I am understanding this correctly, and that's what you did, there are two ways to solve it. One, find another car that's having a timing belt change and use it to set your tool. Or, I can set it for you, but you will have to send it to me. I have a perfect 124 engine on my shop floor that's never had it's timing belt off. I can use that to set it, since I'm not taking my 124 apart just to set the tool.
I now see the need to make an entire timing belt changing video and including cam shaft swap info. It's apparent to me that guidance is needed on this issue. I am going to delete the current video because it's obvious to me that putting up partial information has the risk of causing someone to skip a step. Give me a week, but I will get a new video up, which hopefully will help anyone in the future avoid an issue like this.
Greg
No Greg, Sorry but you are off..
You can check the correct timing of the belt WITHOUT removing the belt or loosening the sprocket on the camshaft pulley..
And that's BTW what it seems you did in the video you posted..
First you LOCK the engine crankshaft, remove (if you haven't done so already) the vacuum pump and put the VN004 (upper timing tool, picture I posted above) in.. the inset will match the camshaft grooves only in one position and then you ASSESS...
Two things can happen here:
- The tool is upside down : That means you are 180 degrees off
In that case remove the bottom lock, perform a 180 degrees spin of the camshaft pulley (which equates to 360 degrees of the crankshaft) reinstall the bottom lock and press on.
- The top tool enters the groves in the camshaft but the 3 locking holes (supposed the be aligned with the rest of support bracket where the vacuum pump is attached) don't match uo with it.
That means 2 things.. the engine is slightly off time OR the tool is misadjusted.
In both cases you cannot LOCK the upper timing tool but you can see if the timing is good or not.
AGAIN MY ENGINE IS PERFECTLY TIMED ! I just had to use the FIAT timing tool vice the BETA one.
Last but not least, If the BETA kit (mine and yours) is exactly the same how can you be sure that yours is factory adjusted for 124 and 500 Abarth? Did you check the inside manual like I did?
