timing belt replacement

[kevireno]

79 fiat 124. Engine is out of the car on engine stand.
I have the old belt off. everything lined up, however, I cannot seem to get the new timing belt over the tension pulley. What am I doing wrong? It is ever so close, but....no go, just not enough to slip over the tension pulley.

[4uall]

this might help

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13215

long but thorough

[76was124]

Did you loosen the nut on the tensioner pulley so you can use a lever to push it to the side and slip the belt over it?

[RRoller123]

also, make sure you have the right belt. There are two of them, and the 2L is somewhat longer than the earlier. The vendors occasionally ship the wrong one.

[vandor]

1800 belt - 146 teeth
2000 belt - 148 teeth
The number is often on the box or the belt as well.

[RRoller123]

For the record, AR has never shipped me a wrong part....

[DanD]

Try looping it over the tension bearing and the exhaust gear, then slip it over the intake gear last. This seems to be the easiest way to me, assuming the tensioner is fully retracted.

[azruss]

As mentioned, the tensioner has to be loosened and pushed as far to the left as possible and tightened enough to hold it in that position. It is also easy to get slack between the aux pulley and the crank. I will start at the crank and pull tight on both side to the aux pulley. The belt will make contact with both sides. While holding at the aux pulley, go CCW and adjust each cam to pick up the tooth and remove the slack. If this is done correctly, you should have enough slack at the tensioner. Once the belt is on, release the tensioner and retighten.