And for my next trick....

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

...I shall attempt to change the cam and aux belts. JB has given me a few pointers. Anyone care to add some more? This job looks scarier and more fiddly than the gearbox change seeing as theres more to f*** up.

Cheers

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

its easy peasy mate.

Main drama is the belt tension. It should be looser than you think.

if its to tight it will whine loudly, to loose and it will flap about.

When fitting the belt put the belt only halfway on the cogs, this allows you to feed it on the cogs then you can push it home.

Fit the belt onto the crank pulley first. Also tear a bit off the belts box and fold it up then use that to hold the belt onto the crank pulley, shove it between the cover and the belt, that way it cant drop and jump teeth whilst you wrestle with the cam pulleys.

If you are using the bolt through the back of the head to push the tensioner use a rocker cover bolt as these are the right size for the job. And if your like me with spades for hands it is very awkward.

As for the alt belt its easy enough, again fit the belt to the crank first then the other cogs then lastly slip it over the smooth water pump pulley.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Looks easy enough, is there a way of checking the correct tension? JB mentioned being able to turn it with your fingers 90 degrees. Another though, the water pump was changed a few K ago, the cam belt has to come off for that doesn't it?

Cheers

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

90 degrees is right, although depending on how strong your fingers are the tension may be to high.

it should waggle a bit under light pressure between the cam pulleys, it shouldn't flap though. if it sounds ok then it will be ok.

Water pump is driven off the alt belt, did my previous message not give that one away when I said this?

'As for the alt belt its easy enough, again fit the belt to the crank first then the other cogs then lastly slip it over the smooth water pump pulley.'

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Sorry, i'd just woken up when I read your first messege, musta mis read it Razz

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

the worst bit about the job is getting the bloody bolts out of the cam cover.

Getting them back in is an arse.

I can get them all ion apart from the 2 at the bottom of the top cover cos my hands are to big.

Thats another thing, lower cover covering the crank pulley and oil pump pulley has 2 10mm bolts.

Upper cover has 5 10mm boltsd and 2 13mm bolts.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Just like renault to use two different size bolts for the same job

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Another quick Q, any idea what cam belts GSF use? I've just been quoted Â£28.70+vat for a gates belt.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

gates is oe renault.

I last used an FAI belt for 18 quid but i am trade.

Ask them what belts they use if you want.

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

i cant get the 2 btm top cover bolts back in either..but it dont flap about...

i have a very small ratchet too...one about the size of my hand which is perfect for this job.

also on My btm belt cover, one of the captive nuts came unstuck so the bolt just turned and turnâ€¦cut around the plastic cover in the end..it just goes on with one bolt and wedged in lol

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

always the same JB.

1/4 ratchets are great for these things.

Captive nuts a popular failing to especially if the engine doesn't leak oil

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Here is a quick pic of the current belt:

Rubber looks a little cracked around the front cam sprocket.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

yep its a cambelt.

Change it.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

So far i've got the aux belt off, timing cover and aux pulley...work has stopped due to the bloody rain!

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

typical.

MAke sure you line the timing marks up before you remove the belt.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Yup, marks are all lined up, the one on the crank is a bit off, looks like they just left a bit of paint off leaving a silver mark.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

there is no paint on them as standard.

The bottom pulley never lines up right or what you would class as right. Use the marks on the belt unless its liek the belt I got with marks for a chrysler thing.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Bloody ell, motorworld want 38.99 for a belt, me local factors wants 30+vat and my local garage wants 42 somthing, WTF?

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

i dont get it....gsf do em for 17 odd quid...just get it from them

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

R13110 TIMING BELT-16V(XS) R19 16V 90> 17.50

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Yeah, but thats + VAT and their silly P&P chanrges, might just get the timing belt off them and the aux belt locally