Would you be able to hear it?
 
I've noticed my belts slipped a few teeth due to lack of tension.....
 
Haven't had the engine running yet, just turning over. I have retimed the pulleys and tensioned the belt since...
 
I'm a little bit scared.

A compression test will reveal all!
 
 

NOT NECCESSARILY...
 
I had a cam belt slip a tooth or 2 on the Escort a few years ago when it backfired on startup and there was a ticking sound at idle and low revs...  Do NOT show up on a compression test and was persistant until I took the head off and took it to a head place...  Was only slightly bent and not really visible except that half the seat was shiny and half was not....  And it was not a big cam either - only a mild one to suit the gas research..
 
If a valve is hitting DO NOT START THE ENGINE or you will bend a valve (or 4) or worse... You should feel it when turning over the engine by hand GENTLY...

I'm a nonce... i marked the belt and the pulley then was freaking out when they didn't line up. The belt changes orientation on the pulleys as it goes about its rotation... as long as the timing marks are lined up its all g.
 
Talk about a rookie error, and a very good lesson. Keep your bloody cool and don't go retiming your engine on a method of measurement.
 
I could hit myself right now. 

On another note however, i've tensioned up my belt and i can twist it roughly 3/4 of a turn, is this too loose??? 
 
Cheers guys

I'm not sure but I just checked mine and it goes about half a turn.
 
Matt

Cheers matt as always you're the man with the answers! 
 
I can't seem to tension mine up to half a twist, its really annoying me.
 
Yep I turned it over by hand and it was all good, i've just gone and turned it over with the key a few more times, each time checking the marks and the crank pointer and the cam pointer are lining up perfect every time. 
 
A question about your bent valves, did you notice any performance decrease or was it purely through the ticking noise that you tried to locate the problem.
 
Thanks again guys.

You could try to turn it by hand with the adjustment dealie slackened off and then this should sort it out.
 
I think your last question was aimed at Nic.
 
Cheers
 
Matt