Difficulty with timing belt change

I'm having trouble getting the timing belt back on with all the arrows on the belt pointing to their corresponding indicators on the truck. In particular, I'm getting the arrow for the crank one tooth off from the little dot on the crank gear. The cam arrows I can get right, but I just can't get that crank one in exactly the right spot.

Is this critical? If so, do you have any tips or tricks for getting that one additional tooth?

Thanks for the help.

 

Install the belt and then rotate the crank few revolutions; if the cam and crank marks (not on the belt!) still properly align, you're good to go.

 

Do you have the tensioner pushed all the way in and the retention pin installed? I start at the crank and then put it on the D/S cam gear but I dont slide the belt all the way back then put a little tension on the D/S gear to "hold" it, then the P/S cam gear, again noit all the way and little tension, then slip it over the tensioner. Once it is on then I will push the belt all the way on. Pull the pin and roll the motor over by hand 2 or 3 times and reverify markings.

 

It can be difficult, but yes, you need those marks to line up! One method that worked for me was loosening the bolt on the tensioner while fitting the belt in place. Just be careful not to cross thread it!

 

With regards to the tensioner (compressed and pinned), I have found it easiest to have both bolts backed out to only a few threads holding it in place. Even then it still takes a few attempts.

 

Thanks, y'all. It really gave me fits yesterday, but I got it on my first try this morning. It's running great, now.