Alright, after much wrangling, I managed to get the new timing belt on my 1971 spider (1608 engine if that matters), and I had all the timing indicators aligned correctly but the belt was quite loose. I released the tensioner bearing and then tightened it, with little difference in the slack, which was mostly between the inlet cam and auxillary pulley. I then turned the crankshaft pulley clockwise a full revolution and released and retightened the tensioner pulley. The slack was gone, but the timing marks, primarily the one on the exhaust cam pulley, are off. What am I doing wrong?
Also, as I turn the crankshaft pulley with my wrench, when I have to take the wrench off to start another turn, the crankshaft pulley wants to rotate backwards (counterclockwise) about half to one inch. Is that a problem? Is that what causes the timing marks to get messed up? Is that simply caused by the weight of the crankshaft? Am I doing irreparable damage to something?
Also, as I turn the crankshaft pulley, the car inches forward. This makes sense because, per the manual, the car is supposed to be in gear while doing this operation. But I have never seen this mentioned anywhere, and I want to make sure something isn't wrong or that I'm somehow doing some serious damage.
What am I doing wrong here? This is my first experience with a Fiat, which I've only had about two weeks now. It doesn't seem like it should be this difficult to put on a %$#%@ belt. You should see the two wires I had to rig up to hold the wrench on the crankshaft pulley in place while I checked it on the timing mark and aligned the other pulleys. Someone tell me what I'm doing wrong, or even right for that matter. How can I determine if I need a new tensioner bearing? Any thoughts/help will be appreciated. Thanks.
Grant
What am I doing wrong with timing belt???
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grantgsr
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:11 am
- Your car is a: 1971 124 spider
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rlux4
- Patron 2022
- Posts: 4211
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
- Location: Granite Falls, Wa
Re: What am I doing wrong with timing belt???
OK, the first mistake you made was not driving it over to Ventura Ace's for his help and a dinner!
When Ace and I did mine, he had a new one at his place I bought from him. He compared the length of his spare with my old one to be sure it was the right length. They're not all the same.
2nd: You should check the tensioner bearing for the sound bad bearings. Mine sounded just a little rough, but when we pulled it, it came apart, and it was dry as a bone.
3rd: Before you release the tensioner bracket so it tensions the belt, make a final check that all the marks are where they should be. Tightening up the belt should not move any pulleys. It almost sounds like you have a belt from a 2 liter engine, they are longer, so if you do, that may be the cause of pulleys moving. The belt slips? Just a thought.
4th: I dont' know. These are just suggestions from my recent belt change. Any more would have to come from someone more knowledgeable.
Good luck
Ron
When Ace and I did mine, he had a new one at his place I bought from him. He compared the length of his spare with my old one to be sure it was the right length. They're not all the same.
2nd: You should check the tensioner bearing for the sound bad bearings. Mine sounded just a little rough, but when we pulled it, it came apart, and it was dry as a bone.
3rd: Before you release the tensioner bracket so it tensions the belt, make a final check that all the marks are where they should be. Tightening up the belt should not move any pulleys. It almost sounds like you have a belt from a 2 liter engine, they are longer, so if you do, that may be the cause of pulleys moving. The belt slips? Just a thought.
4th: I dont' know. These are just suggestions from my recent belt change. Any more would have to come from someone more knowledgeable.
Good luck
Ron
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So Cal Mark
Re: What am I doing wrong with timing belt???
take the car out of gear.
with the belt off, spin the tensioner bearing. If it feels rough or noisy, replace it
When you put the belt on, the slack needs to be between the tensioner and exhaust cam, otherwise the timing marks will not line up after turning the engine by hand.
Verify you have the right belt as Ron suggested
with the belt off, spin the tensioner bearing. If it feels rough or noisy, replace it
When you put the belt on, the slack needs to be between the tensioner and exhaust cam, otherwise the timing marks will not line up after turning the engine by hand.
Verify you have the right belt as Ron suggested
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ventura ace
Re: What am I doing wrong with timing belt???
Grant,
In addition to the other good tips:
1) Putting the car in gear is a good idea to keep the engine from moving while you are slipping the belt off and putting it back on, but even if you do so, it is a good idea to verify that the crankshaft is at TDC while the 2 camshaft pulleys are at their index marks. However, when you are spinning the engine to let the belt tension settle in, you need to have the car out of gear.
2) The 1800 cc belt has 146 teeth. The 2.0L belt has 148 teeth. If you still have your old belt, you can loop the new and old belts over a bar, and pull the other ends tight. The loose ends should stretch out to exactly the same length.
3) Make sure that the index mark on the aux shaft pulley points to about 1 - 2 o'clock when the other pulleys are at their index marks. When you are turning the engine over by hand, if you feel any unusual resistance (like for example if the car is in gear!!), stop and figure out why before forcing it.
Good luck! It sounds like you are almost there. It'll be a piece of cake for you the next time.
Alvon
In addition to the other good tips:
1) Putting the car in gear is a good idea to keep the engine from moving while you are slipping the belt off and putting it back on, but even if you do so, it is a good idea to verify that the crankshaft is at TDC while the 2 camshaft pulleys are at their index marks. However, when you are spinning the engine to let the belt tension settle in, you need to have the car out of gear.
2) The 1800 cc belt has 146 teeth. The 2.0L belt has 148 teeth. If you still have your old belt, you can loop the new and old belts over a bar, and pull the other ends tight. The loose ends should stretch out to exactly the same length.
3) Make sure that the index mark on the aux shaft pulley points to about 1 - 2 o'clock when the other pulleys are at their index marks. When you are turning the engine over by hand, if you feel any unusual resistance (like for example if the car is in gear!!), stop and figure out why before forcing it.
Good luck! It sounds like you are almost there. It'll be a piece of cake for you the next time.
Alvon
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spkx714
Re: What am I doing wrong with timing belt???
If you still have the belt off replaces the tensioner. If it goes bad you have to do it all over again.