Installing timing belt

[sdebaker]

1977 Spider (USA)

Having trouble getting the new belt on. Seems too short. Doesn't fit over tensioner bearing/pulley.

I confirmed it is correct belt. Tensioner pulley is loose, spring detached.

Why doesn't it fit? What can I do to make it fit?

[azruss]

if you truly have the idler bearing as far to the left as possible, then this issue is you have slack someplace. it is usually between the aux pulley and the crank pulley. the belt makes contact on both side of the aux pulley and if any slack is there, you wont get the belt on. here is the sequence. pull the belt tight around the crank. pull on both side unti contact with the aux pulley. make sure the slack is gone on both sides. while holding the belt on the aux pulley, thread ccw with the intake cam first, then exhaust cam, then idler bearing. The usually requires slightly rotating each pulley to get the belt in place and pulling the slack out of the belt. The idler bearing should be forced as far left as possible and then tightened in the position. This does not require release of the spring, but can be done either way.

[sdebaker]

if you truly have the idler bearing as far to the left as possible, then this issue is you have slack someplace. it is usually between the aux pulley and the crank pulley. the belt makes contact on both side of the aux pulley and if any slack is there, you wont get the belt on. here is the sequence. pull the belt tight around the crank. pull on both side unti contact with the aux pulley. make sure the slack is gone on both sides. while holding the belt on the aux pulley, thread ccw with the intake cam first, then exhaust cam, then idler bearing. The usually requires slightly rotating each pulley to get the belt in place and pulling the slack out of the belt. The idler bearing should be forced as far left as possible and then tightened in the position. This does not require release of the spring, but can be done either way.

There is zero slack anywhere in the belt. The tensioner pulley is as far right (in general, automotive directions of left or right are related from the driver's position, so that's the convention I use) as it can go, with spring disconnected. The belt is a Gates T020.

The belt will still not slide onto the tensioner.

Any other ideas?

[azruss]

It sounds like you have everything right. double check the idler bearing and make sure it is tight up against the mounting stud for maximum slack. Also, make sure the pivot pin for the tensioner is loose allowing the tensioner to rotate for maximum slack. I have had some belts that i really struggled to get on even with all this done.

[131]

Is it an 1800 or 2 litre? T020 is 146 teeth for the 1800, T019 is 148 teeth for the 2 litre.

[RRoller123]

I was sent an incorrect belt (I have a 2L and they sent an 1800 belt) and had the same problem. Worth double-checking.

[85redpini]

who sent it?

[RRoller123]

I will only say that the CORRECT one was sent by AR, who as usual came through for me in the clutch. Great guys. The original wrong one was sent by another firm.