Timing Mechanism Help

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Hi all,

was driving to work yesterday and I heard a rattling noise then a whine from the timing belt area.

Checked it out and a bolt had shot out from inside the casing and was lodged in the casing. I was very very lucky because it only rubbed the inside of the belt (slightly shredded) and thankfully didnt destroy anything. New belt will be put on asap, infact I just removed the top cover. Never done an Mi16 belt before and I'm not looking forward to it

 

My question is does anyone know where this bolt is from? It is very like the bolts that are used for screwing on the rocker cover. I've attached a pic

 

On another note, is there any handy way of removing that damned outer timing belt cover? I removed the driver side engine mount, but I had to use a pry-bar to get the belt cover manoeuvered out.

[B1ack_Mi16 67]

I think that might be a bolt that bolts the inner cover to the head.

[welshpug 1,657]

yup, looks like it

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Cheers guys. Yeah just checked servicebox for that part number and then searched online for an actual picture of the part number, and yeah its the same bolt.

On the plus side, I just fitted the 3 pins for the timing and they all line up perfectly, so no slipped teeth on the belt or anything

 

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Ok need a bit of help. I've got both tensioners at their slackest point, but I can't for the life of me get the belt to go over the pullies. Any tips appreciated

[B1ack_Mi16 67]

Ok need a bit of help. I've got both tensioners at their slackest point, but I can't for the life of me get the belt to go over the pullies. Any tips appreciated

 

Is the new belt the same length as the old one?

It shall come on quite easy when both tensioners are slack...

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Yep, exactly the same as the old belt. Its a Gates 5206, 133 teeth, and I've comapred the length to the old one and its the same.

Must be something amiss, because any belt I've ever done in the past has went on relatively easy.

I'm feeding it over the 2 cam pullies, then right side tensioner, bottom pulley, water pump then it just doesn't want to go over the final tensioner.

Absolute pig of a job to do in-situ

 

[B1ack_Mi16 67]

Yep, exactly the same as the old belt. Its a Gates 5206, 133 teeth, and I've comapred the length to the old one and its the same.

Must be something amiss, because any belt I've ever done in the past has went on relatively easy.

I'm feeding it over the 2 cam pullies, then right side tensioner, bottom pulley, water pump then it just doesn't want to go over the final tensioner.

Absolute pig of a job to do in-situ

 

I think I used to take it over the front cam-pulley as the last stage, tried that?

[JeffR 51]

Try nipping up the tensioner bolts in the fully slackened position first. With the offset pivot, they have a tendency to drop down under their own weight making it harder to fit the belt.

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Yeah, have both nipped up at their slackest position and still no luck. Got a friend coming over tonight to have a look. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes is called for

[JeffR 51]

I suppose if all else fails you could take the front tensioner off altogether then fit the belt.

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Finally got the belt on. Had to resort to putting it on over the exhaust cam pulley last. To tension I set the front tensioner to almost max, and the rear one then to suit. Along the longest run i got around 45 degrees of a twist with moderate pressure. Turned the engine 4 complete revolutions and the timing pins went straight in again, so i guess the timing is spot on. Only concern is a slight whine from the belt which means I've tensioned it slightly too tight (the whine isn't too bad)

[petert1345402284 0]

Exhaust pulley last is normal. I try to slip it over both inlet and exhaust more or less at the same time. If it's whining, just back off the exhaust tensioner a bee's d*ck. Did you do the tensioners up counter-clockwise? If not, this is often a rookie error that leads to disaster.

 

[ryan13961345402285 1]

Yeah cheers, both tensioners done anti-clockwise