Why you should unlock your K Series VTC Gear before installing it! 

Be sure to always unlock your VTC gear following the steps outlined in the factory service manual. I only took the VTC gear apart to show how it worked and to show why I think it should be unlocked when torquing the gear down. I show how to properly unlock the gear without taking it apart around 4:09 of this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tCCTHyWVx2A.html

The most overlooked thing ever, nice to see someone addressing this simple but vital method for installing your vtc

Wish I would’ve seen this video before I installed my :( got everything back on and the engine in the car. Hope nothing goes wrong. I watched so many videos on this and can’t believe no one else mentioned this

Very inquisitive, I appreciate the knowledge…

I think you're right on the money with that reasoning.

Great explanation, I think you are 100% correct! I wish I knew this when I rebuilt my K24A2 a couple years ago before swapping it into my ES1 Civic. I think I got lucky since I put several thousand miles on it since the rebuild using it as my daily driver and it's been totally trouble free. If I have a VTC gear off again I will definitely unlock it before installation. Better safe than sorry!

great content. i was wonderin if you could help me with a question. i have a k24, kpro, phanectrics swap harness. will this setup work with a k20 euro CTR engine harness? i know its a little short but besides that is it just the usual stuff like crank sensor, knock sensor, IAT sensor i think aswell. thanks for any help

The new ones come unlocked, and your supposed to lock it after torquing down to prevent free float on start up

I don't see how tightening it would interfere with what position the internal components are as the main cam bolt goes through the centre of the cam and the four bolts is what holds the internal workings in place. And a new variable actuator comes in the unlocked position and thats the way you keep it whilst installing it

LITERALLY READING THE SERVICE MANUAL: 15. Apply new engine oil to the threads of the VTC actuator and the exhaust camshaft sprocket mounting bolts, then loosely install them. 16. Turn the VTC actuator clockwise until you hear it click. Make sure to lock the VTC actuator by turning it. 17. Remove the wire tie while keeping light tension on the cam chain. 18. Slide the intake and exhaust camshafts in at an angle to allow the cam chain to slip over the VTC actuator’s teeth and the exhaust sprocket's teeth. 19. Line up the marks made in step 3 for each cam. 20. Apply new engine oil to the camshaft journals and lobes on both cams, and reinstall the five camshaft holders and cam chain guide B in place. 21. Tighten the camshaft holder bolts to the specified torque. 22. Hold the camshaft with an open-end wrench, then tighten the bolts. Specified Torque VTC Actuator Mounting Bolt: 12 x 1.25 mm 113 N·m (11.5 kgf·m, 83 lbf·ft) Exhaust Camshaft Sprocket Mounting Bolt: 10 x 1.25 mm 72 N·m (7.3 kgf·m, 53 lbf·ft) LIKE... BRO I CANT EVEN. EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON RU-vid, OR THAT IVE TALKED TOO SAYS TORQUE IT DOWN WHILES ITS UNLOCKED.... THE SERVICE MANUAL FROM HONDA SAYS YOU MUST LOCK IT BEFORE TORQUING IT DOWN. WHICH IS IT?!?!?

In the Honda Fit 2015 + it docent mention anything about unlocking it. when installing it it tells you to turn it until it engaged the camshaft pin and then the manual moves on torquing and cam installation. Why is this ???

if i just want to replace the spring on the vtc gear by removin the 4 bolts while still mounted on the engine, does it matter if its in the lock position or not? apparently the spring goes bad inside the vtc on honda's cr-v certain years, and would like to replace it.

That pin may be only partially engaged, cocked slightly and when torqued it could break or jam/gall its bore. If that happed the gear could beat itself to death jumping the chain

Your hypothesis seems very logical.

Great info!

Thanks man

Good info thanks

If I'm understanding correctly, if someone doesn't have access to compressed air they could unlock the VTC gear by removing the pin like you did and manually moving it and reassembling it in the unlocked position. Correct?

How about telling us what size & type of 'Star" bit for the bolts on the VTC ? How obvious is that ?

What about if a limiter pin is used? Is there risk of those cracking when torquing cam bolt on an unlocked VTC? There's alot less surface area on a limiter pin. Anyone ever hear of this happening?

I don’t have access to an air compressor would it be ok to take it apart and unlock it that way? I saw you can expand the spring to avoid getting the rattle, that’s why I was going open the gear

Very good

What is the torque spec for the 4 t30 bolts? Any recommendation to prevent stripping them? I stripped one!

Where did you get the 45 deg.? Is it tunable thru Hondata? I've heard the K24A2 responds good at 30 deg before vtec and tapering down to 20 deg at the top end.

same goes for toyota vvt. seams like the are are made the same

Hi. There are some videos out there regarding the Honda K24 and K20 engines, where they open up the front cover of the VTC actuator and than just take out the actual lock pin spring and stretch it and then they place it back in. Many claim that no more rattle after. What do you think about that? Thanks

Hey bro love the video, just curious once we take it apart and unlock it do we put it back together with the inside gear spin to the right ? Would like to see the gear put back together so we know we’re putting it on right

I think I installed mine locked and when I went to start the car heard a weird noise think it caused it

Are you not supposed to lock the cams before you tighten the VTC bolt??

Is that 45 deg OEM or DC?

Why is it locked in the first place? Prevent shipping damage?

The dowel pin on the cam takes all the force when torquing the bolt into the cam, if that dowel were not present then yes the locking pin in VTC would be taking the impact of torquing

I have 2016 hrv, my vtc actuator rattles a little bit in cold mornings or when the car is parked on a steep terrain, can you please tell me what kind of series is my vtc actuator?

I don't see why there would be any force on the pin while torquing the gear down.

Wish I seen this video before I tried doing the compressed air and I dropped the chain now made job harder -_-

Hey is it ok to run it at 45*

awsome video! i believe after torquing it should then be put into the locked position before setting timing correct?

Im not a engineer and im sure honda has a reason.but when you are tightening gear there should be no stress put on the locking mechanism. You are just clamping inner part of vtc to the camshaft, the outer part of gear with lock mechanism is just floating. feel free to argue and correct me but its pretty basic mechanical theory

In the manual for my k20z3 it says to make sure its locked before installing the timing chain so i dont understand why everyone says to unlock it

If u look at the RZA and R40 VTC they’re different. Could I use the R40 VTC on my RZA? Better yet is there anyone who will machine these VTCs? I’d like a little more advance and retard TBH. I need to find the info of how much advance and retard these VTCs have. Anyone have any info? I’m new to K24s.

This makes no sense, If you were holding the teeth while torquing the bolt then yes, the pressure would be right between the two mechanisms..but you are holding the cam while torquing the bolt! so with it locked or unlocked the pressure is between the inside mechanism and the camshaft directly attached. you can prove this -- while torquing the bolt tight the 2 mechanisms will float related to each other (if its unlocked)