Car Mechanics (UK)

FITTING/TENSIONING THE NEW CAMBELT

The main steps are as detailed in our step-by step guide, but there are some additional aspects to note.

-

Before fitting the new timing belt, ensure that the sprocket locking pins/bolts are in place and that your datum marks align correctly.

Ensuring that the directiona­l arrows on the new belt are correctly indicating clockwise engine/belt rotation when viewed from the right-hand end of the engine, start by fitting the belt over the crankshaft sprocket and get an assistant to hold the lower part of the belt against the sprocket from under the car. If working on your own, use a pad of folded cloth to temporaril­y hold the belt in position, as shown in Photo 33. Don’t forget to remove the cloth after the belt has been fitted and before starting the engine.

Working from the crankshaft sprocket upwards and anticlockw­ise, guide the new belt onto the drive sprockets/ pulleys in this sequence: guide/idler pulley, inlet camshaft sprocket, exhaust camshaft sprocket, water pump sprocket and tensioner assembly pulley, ensuring that the belt is kept taut as you proceed. Patience is definitely a virtue for this job – initially the new belt will be very tight.

Set the belt tension as described in our photograph­s/ captions, then rotate the engine through 360°.

Ensure that the timing pins/bolts can be re-inserted in their respective apertures and that your belt sprocket timing marks still align precisely, as at the outset.

Remaining operations can be carried out as per our step-bystep guide, with auxiliary components being refitted in the reverse order to that used during dismantlin­g.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom