Cam Belt Change Write-Up

[ailwyn]

There was an old write up with pics and arrows and things that was a step-by step guide to changing the cambelt.

Anyone have a copy or know where I can find it? A search of the site and the net have not turned it up.

Thanks

Ailwyn

[John_W]

Ailwyn,
Here it is.

John

[GeoffSmith]

So is anyone offering to Wiki it?

[ailwyn]

John,

Many thanks, that the one I was after.

Geoff,

I'll Wiki it when I get time (which is in short supply at the moment), or alternatively I could email it to you in .doc format if you will then do the conversion (I have spent the last hour getting it into a format that prints properly)?

Thanks

Ailwyn

[GeoffSmith]

Ailwyn,

I'm on interface duty again so I'm short of time. I've put a link to it in the links to be incorporated section for now.

Geoff

[al]

No worries, I'll pick it up when I get a bit of time; shouldn't take long.

I think it's only polite to email this guy first to let him know what we're doing and ask for his permission though. I'd be pissed if someone ripped off my work lock stock.

[al]

Didn't get a reply from Pantz as yet, so I've wikified it with the intention that we'll take it down if he objects for any reason.
He mentions wanting to improve it with help from other people in the text, so I hope he'll be fine with it. I've credited him with the original write-up and linked to his site at the top anyways.

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Cambelt-change

a.

[John_W]

Well done, Al.
John

[tigerdog]

Nice job on wiki-fying the writeup. Maybe next time I'll be brave enough to try changing my own cam belt.

[muley]

Just a couple of points from my cambelt change.

I followed the Wiki and John W's excellent cam pulley holder thread.

Good tips on the allen key - I actually had one in a Halford ratchet handle set that did the job perfectly.

There didn't seem to be any way to remove the upper cambelt cover without getting the pas pipe out of the way, so I undid the PAS pump bolts and shifted it forward to get the pipe out of the way.

If you remove the socket screws and the PAS pump - there's no need to undo the 3 bolts to the engine mount.

An easy way to drain the PAS fluid it so undo the pipe clip at the pump end and pull the pipe off - the fluid comes out easily!

The reason why the manual says set the tension at 60 deg ATDC is because at the point both camshafts can spin - they're not holding valves open.

HTH

Jim


p.s. Don't do what I did and get the alternator belt wedged between the cambelt and adjuster pulley as you wind the engine on to TDC!! Tw@t!!

[John_W]

Jim,
those are all good points worth noting.

I followed the Wiki and John W's excellent cam pulley holder thread.

Modesty almost prevents me from adding this link, but does compel me to give credit to another LEC member from the USA about 5 years ago who referred to a similar method. I just remembered it and copied it. (Isn't LEC wonderful if you're paying attention?)

Good tips on the allen key - I actually had one in a Halford ratchet handle set that did the job perfectly!

I used an allen key insert extracted from a Halfords allen socket (drifted out with a suitable hammer and punch - it goes back in again at the end) inserted into a Halfords ratchet spanner.

There didn't seem to be any way to remove the upper cambelt cover without getting the pas pipe out of the way, so I undid the PAS pump bolts and shifted it forward to get the pipe out of the way.

It is just possible if you spend a lot of time jacking the engine up & down to achieve the necessary alignment and explore the limits of plastic and elastic deformability of the cam cover (only advised on a warm day).

If you remove the socket screws and the PAS pump - there's no need to undo the 3 bolts to the engine mount.

Now that little gem of wisdom deserves to be in big letters because getting those 3 bolts back into the engine mounting was the longest and most frustrating part of my cam belt change job.

An easy way to drain the PAS fluid it so undo the pipe clip at the pump end and pull the pipe off - the fluid comes out easily!

The reason why the manual says set the tension at 60 deg ATDC is because at the point both camshafts can spin - they're not holding valves open.

Agreed,, but if you could provide a reference that would make it watertight.

p.s. Don't do what I did and get the alternator belt wedged between the cambelt and adjuster pulley as you wind the engine on to TDC!!

I have absolutely no idea how you managed to do that. Lateral thinking?

John

[GeoffSmith]

Could either of you add the information to the Wiki so it becomes the definitive write up? If you need a hand or get stuck, just shout and I'll probably shout for al... or foo, who obviously knows Wikispeak and has made some valuable changes already.

[John_W]

OK, but not promising when.

I'll also include Jim's (and other people's) tip about marking the belt cf pulleys position with white-out or whatever (preferably non-solvent based so that it doesn't chemically degrade the belt).

John

[GeoffSmith]

Good man!

There are a few that I started some time ago and I've still got to update - I've just got to decipher my hand written notes.

[muley]

..oh, and one more thing - I found it tricky to feed the new belt on, starting at the top and finishing at the bottom, so I held the belt in place on the cam pulleys with a couple of wooden clothes pegs - worked a treat,



Jim

[GeoffSmith]

Hope you didn't put them back in the laundry basket.

[muley]

Hope you didn't put them back in the laundry basket.

D'oh!

[discovery]

I have a water leak and am almost sure (95%) it is from the water pump .I have all the bits to change cam belt , water pump , idler and gaskets bought on a previous group buy .I have all the tools required except the spline socket. What size is the spline socket and can you buy them individual from Halfords or do you have to buy the set?

[muley]

Ah, the 'spline socket' I should have mentioned that - it has me puzzled and I couldn't find one anywhere on the web.

What you actually use is just a normal 12 point socket.

HTH

Jim

p.s. Good luck - I'm doing another one on Monday - should be easier this time

[muley]

Oh, another tip I didn't mention - I marked the old pulleys and belt - copied the belt marks onto the new belt and put it in place next to the pulley marks.