Cambelt Change Urgent Help Needed!

[DirtyFlare 0]

Ive currently got my car on axle stands as im attempting to change my first ever cambelt on my 1.6 gti. Well ive managed to get the auxiliary belt off and the front cam belt covers (what a b*sterd they are!!).

 

The next step in the haynes manual and from autodata is to locate the timing pins (10mm bolts) in to the crankshaft pulley and the camshaft sprocket. Well i can locate the camshaft sprocket timing pin easily but not the crankshaft pulley

 

There is a guard behind the pulley which blocks you from putting the timing pin in place. I have undone the nuts and bolts that keep the guard in place but it does not come off.

 

Does the guard only come off once you have removed the crankshaft pulley? and i then locate the timing pin in the crankshaft sprocket behind the pulley?

 

A next door neighbor saw me struggling and came over to see what was wrong. he phoned his son a mechanic and he reckoned the pulley comes of first then the guard then u can locate the timing pin but could be 100% sure.

 

I just want to know from you guys who have done it before just to make sure

 

Any help would be great as ive had enough for to day and will tackle it tomorrow.

[matty_gti 20]

No you dont need to remove the pulley and guard.....as you have the camshaft locked, remove the dowl and turn the engine over so the camshaft goes threw one whole rotation and the then the crankshaft pulley should now be able to have the dowl inserted at about 10 - 11 o'clock i think.

 

Matt

Edited June 9, 2007 by matty_gti

[ashlee205gti 1]

I'm 98.9% sure i can locate the timing holes on my crankshaft pulley without removing the guard. I'm sure i checked it that way when i thought my timing had slipped.

[DirtyFlare 0]

the crankshaft pulley locking pin should fit when it is at 12 o'clock according to Haynes, but on my car the plastic guard is in the way or am i being stupid!?

[Pugnut 9 1 Cars]

 

hope this helps.

[matty_gti 20]

Theres what haynes 'says' and what it is actually, it's at about 11 o'clock within two small groves/walls, its kind of hard to explain.

 

Your timing could just be way out.

Edited June 9, 2007 by matty_gti

[pug_ham 245 3 Cars]

With the covers on there is one hole for the timing pin to fit through so you can't get it wrong unless you use the wrong hole on the 8v pulley.

 

Picture of correct 8v timing pin in place. The crank turns twice for every cam rotation so if its way out you might just need to turn the crank again for them to be inline.

 

Graham.

[lagonda 42]

As others have said, it might well be that you need to turn the crank through 1 revolution: remember that the camshaft is driven at half engine/crank speed, so you have a 1 in 2 chance of getting it wrong.

I suggest you remove the camshaft pin/dowel & start again. inserting the CRANK dowel first. That way, you can't get it wrong. The plastic cover behind the crank pulley includes a blanking area as the block casting has two timing pin recesses to allow for other variants. It might be easier if you remove the pulley (you're going to have to remove it later anyway) and hopefully the recess for the pin will be obvious. If the blanking area on the plastic cover is damaged (like it was on mine), you'll see two recesses, & will need to establish which is correct. Hopefully it'll be intact.

Put the pulley back on, turn the engine over a few times, then put your dowel through the CORRECT hole in the pulley, & into the block timing recess you've now located. Your camshaft sprocket dowel should now slide smoothly through the camshaft into the hole behind. If your cylinder head has been skimmed, even lightly, the pin will NOT go in ... but it should be close. If it isn't close, someone hasn't assembled it correctly previously. Frankly all this is academic, the important thing is to acquaint yourself with what is involved and then ensure everything is correctly set once you've fitted the new belt. The fun is just beginning ...

[DirtyFlare 0]

thanx for the help guys!! I have managed to locate the crankshaft pulley timing pin, i was being stupid and the guard behind the pulley has got a hole in it to locate the timing pin.

 

Ive managed to get the pulley off, change the spring tensioner and the water pump, although the water pump needed a little modifying to allow the spring tensioner to work properly.

 

My next question is what does it mean by "TDC on No.1 cylinder" ?? ive got the new belt on just want to check that it is ok. please help im so near the end

[jas-E 1]

My next question is what does it mean by "TDC on No.1 cylinder" ?? ive got the new belt on just want to check that it is ok. please help im so near the end

 

That means that the piston on the first cylinder (which is the one closest to the timing belt side) is at top dead centre (TDC). I think that when you have put in the dowels on both the pulleys that gets the No.1 cylinder at TDC so it probably means dont move it.

 

Hope someone else will confirm that.

[matty_gti 20]

I think TDC means when the first cylinder is at its compression stroke.....

Edited June 10, 2007 by matty_gti

[DirtyFlare 0]

TDC means top dead center. I found out that the easiest way to find it is to remove the spark plug and put a screw driver in the hole, turn the crankshaft pulley then note when the screw drivers sticks out furthest, this is the TDC of no1 cylinder.

 

It may be seem a crude way to do it but it worked.

 

All i have to do now is bleed my cooling system, which for some reason it didnt want to (i hope its not the waterpump.....)

 

But thats my first ever cambelt 90% complete, and the car moved and did not blow up so its all good which means my car is one step closer to santa pod

 

Thanx for the help guys

[t16ryan 1]

Should bleed up fairly easy leave the heaters on hot and undo the bleed screw at the back of the engine should be fine to do without the car running,

[inferno 1]

If the pins are in and lined up ok, and yourve fitted the new belt and tensioned it, rotate the engine through 2 crank revolutions (selecting 4th gear with one wheel on the floor works well ) , ensure the pins go back in the holes easily, and the belt tension is correct, job done.

[Richie-Van-GTi 74 2 Cars]

TDC is top dead centre of piston 1 on its compression stroke. Piston 1 is closest the flywheel (although the other end (piston 4) will also be TDC.

Sorry, just a little point I thought worth making