correct timing-belt install? 1984 7.5hp Honda 4stroke

[Snapdragon26]

I bought a used 1984 Honda bf75; my first motor on my first boat. It worked great at first: always started on first pull, idled fine, no stalls, for three seasons. Then I replaced a cracked timing belt improperly, so that the motor would not only not start, but fuel was puffing out of the air intake to the carburetor whenever I pulled the starter. I realized my mistake and re-installed the timing belt properly (or so I thought); now there's fortunately no fuel coming out of the air intake, but the engine won't start at all.

I lined up the cam sprocket by lining the dot on the sprocket with the dot on the engine block, but I'm not sure what to line up the 'T' mark on the flywheel to... there are no marks on the starter housing. I had the 'T' mark lined up with one of the three starter posts, pointing in the same direction as the propeller.

1) Can anyone tell me how to properly line up the cam and freewheel prior to putting on the timing belt, if I've done it improperly?

2) Have I screwed up the motor by attempting to manually start it when I had the timing belt improperly installed and the gas coming out the air intake, and if so how can I fix it?

Thanks for great advice already on the threads on here... I found some info I thought would work for me but nothing this specific

 

[Snapdragon26]

Re: correct timing-belt install? 1984 7.5hp Honda 4stroke

The more I read similar posts the more it seems like I seriously damaged my motor, bending the valves by trying to start it after I put the timing belt on wrong. Is this the case? Although valves themselves don't appear to be too expensive, am I looking at $$ service work?

Thanks and go easy on me... replacing a belt myself seemed like an easy and straightforward thing to do... heh-heh :redface:

 

[hondon]

Re: correct timing-belt install? 1984 7.5hp Honda 4stroke

I'dd really love to go easy on you but the reality is that those valves may well be bent.A compression test will tell you for sure.Provided there is no piston or cylinder damage,heads for this engine are everywhere.This may not be that big of a deal.