Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: JamesV6CDX on 15 November 2007, 06:59:15

Title: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 15 November 2007, 06:59:15
I'm just thinking about where to start, when I look at the Omega on Monday. Likelyhood is, it's suffered a cambelt failure at 3,000rpm.

I am thinking -

A) Strip it down to the timing belt. Look for obvious signs of damage or belt slippage. If none found, and it appears to be in time, then investigate other options.

B) If it does appear to have had a cambelt problem, then I guess all I can attempt to do, is attempt to refit another belt kit, and then compression test it to make sure valves have not been damaged?

C) If the engine truly won't turn by hand and appears seized, I guess I will be removing the heads, to find out what's happened in the chambers.

D) At that point, decide whether to 1) Get a decent pair of 2.5 heads, and rebuild them up. or 2) Service/tweak up my 3.0 lump, and drop that in there! My 3.0 engine is complete, and sounds as sweet as a nut. It needs camcovers, cambelt change and oil cooler, but that won't take long, especially out of the car. I'd to e/m gaskets too.

To be honest, I need to take the quickest option, I am being too inconvenienced by not having wheels!



Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: shyboy on 15 November 2007, 08:18:20
PM sent.
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 15 November 2007, 08:30:10
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PM sent.

Not recieved :)
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 15 November 2007, 08:35:36
Well the first thing to do is get the cambelt cover off......what EXACTLY where you doing when it went?

I thought I read that the aux belt was off?

Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: shyboy on 15 November 2007, 08:40:21
Sorry! Posted too soon. PM now sent. I'm getting very old.   ::)
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 15 November 2007, 08:41:01
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Well the first thing to do is get the cambelt cover off......what EXACTLY where you doing when it went?

I thought I read that the aux belt was off?


At the time that (I think) it went - I was pulling up onto the driveway slope in 1st gear.

It was only after this that I popped off the aux belt.. and tried to turn the crank by hand.

Admittedly, I had no room in there, I didn't have a decent ratchet or socket, and it was dark and cold, so I think I need to make a fresh assessment on my day off...?
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 15 November 2007, 08:42:00
Yep, need that cam cover off but, thats only a 30 minute job so easy enough to do....
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 15 November 2007, 08:43:11
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Yep, need that cam cover off but, thats only a 30 minute job so easy enough to do....

Yep, I've done enough of them, it won't take m elong to strip it down.

Whatd'ya think I'll find in there  :-/
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 15 November 2007, 08:47:11
Difficult to say....you might be lucky.....you might find a collapsed tensioner.

Diffcult one to call.

Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 15 November 2007, 08:48:41
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Difficult to say....you might be lucky.....you might find a collapsed tensioner.

Diffcult one to call.


I'll soon see.....

Am I right in thinking anything over two teeth is valve bending time?
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 15 November 2007, 08:59:40
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Difficult to say....you might be lucky.....you might find a collapsed tensioner.

Diffcult one to call.


I'll soon see.....

Am I right in thinking anything over two teeth is valve bending time?

Yep although, on a 2.5 you can get away with 3 sometimes.
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: A380 Elite on 15 November 2007, 09:03:45
I Wish you luck and i hope, its a small thing and not something big.

Good luck.

All the best. :y

Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: sassanach on 15 November 2007, 09:12:38
or if your really jammy 6, but the engine in my case still ran, but very rattley
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: Kevin Wood on 15 November 2007, 09:18:55
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Am I right in thinking anything over two teeth is valve bending time?

Depends in what direction. EL_Swervo had about 4 teeth out, but it was exhaust cam advanced. You can advance exhaust and retard inlet until it won't run and you'll get no contact. Go the other way and you quickly run into bad news though.

Given that the engine won't turn, we can assume there'll be damage if it's cam belt. Do investigate the possibility of something in the clutch area having come apart if the cam belt appears to be OK. You did have "something odd" happening there shortly before...

Kevin
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: Entwood on 15 November 2007, 14:03:55
Can you get it into neutral and actually turn the back wheels by pushing it ??  If the clutch has done something daft .. and you were having gremlins in there....  you may actually be trying to move the whole car when you try and rotate the crank ... which will be damned hard and would appear like a siezed engine.

If you can turn the gearbox I would attack it this way.    

1) cam cover as it a fairly quick job

2) drop the gearbox off and check clutch, a tad longer but if you have screwed the engine you'll probably pull it anyway so nothing really lost and might save much grief

3) if clutch is fine and with no clutch/gearbox you still can't rotate engine, then pull engine to strip or replace

:(
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: TheBoy on 15 November 2007, 20:51:06
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To be honest, I need to take the quickest option, I am being too inconvenienced by not having wheels!
That will be a swap for a working tractor then ;D
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 16 November 2007, 08:11:43
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To be honest, I need to take the quickest option, I am being too inconvenienced by not having wheels!
That will be a swap for a working tractor then ;D

You have hinted at having my car a few times now - you like it, don't you? :)
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: TheBoy on 16 November 2007, 21:37:05
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To be honest, I need to take the quickest option, I am being too inconvenienced by not having wheels!
That will be a swap for a working tractor then ;D

You have hinted at having my car a few times now - you like it, don't you? :)
Actually, not particularly.  Its a nice car. A very nice car. My ideal colour as well. Good compromise being 2.5 manual. Yet for some bizarre reason simply does not appeal to me. And I cant explain why, as it was pretty much what I was looking for.


But I would still swap for tractor any day of the week ;D
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 November 2007, 22:18:06
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But I would still swap for tractor any day of the week

Wait until he's LPGd it before you pinch it and it won't cost any more to run :y

Kevin
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: TheBoy on 16 November 2007, 22:30:42
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But I would still swap for tractor any day of the week

Wait until he's LPGd it before you pinch it and it won't cost any more to run :y

Kevin
I would hope a 2.5 manual could match my mpg on my work commute...
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 November 2007, 22:36:13
What, tractor MPG?

Ouch!

Kevin
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: TheBoy on 16 November 2007, 22:37:51
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What, tractor MPG?

Ouch!

Kevin
yup.  average speed, on my commute, now under 30mph.  No TC lockup. I dont use D either, purely 3.
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 November 2007, 22:43:51
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yup.  average speed, on my commute, now under 30mph.  No TC lockup. I dont use D either, purely 3.

 :(

It certainly makes a big difference on an auto when you can't get enough speed to lockup. about 8 MPG difference between 44 and 46 MPH in mine according to MID (locks up at about 45).


Kevin
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: TheBoy on 16 November 2007, 22:45:18
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yup.  average speed, on my commute, now under 30mph.  No TC lockup. I dont use D either, purely 3.

 :(

It certainly makes a big difference on an auto when you can't get enough speed to lockup. about 8 MPG difference between 44 and 46 MPH in mine according to MID (locks up at about 45).


Kevin
I get half the mpg @ 40mph that I get @80mph
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 November 2007, 22:48:15
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I get half the mpg @ 40mph that I get @80mph

 :o

I guess it hits the diesel engine worse. Smaller useable (efficient) RPM range and same 4 speed auto box.

Kevin
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: TheBoy on 16 November 2007, 22:52:07
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I get half the mpg @ 40mph that I get @80mph

 :o

I guess it hits the diesel engine worse. Smaller useable (efficient) RPM range and same 4 speed auto box.

Kevin
Seems to be more 'slip' in the tractor tc...
Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 November 2007, 07:33:14
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To be honest, I need to take the quickest option, I am being too inconvenienced by not having wheels!
That will be a swap for a working tractor then ;D

You have hinted at having my car a few times now - you like it, don't you? :)
Its a nice car. A very nice car. My ideal colour as well. Good compromise being 2.5 manual. Yet for some bizarre reason simply does not appeal to me. And I cant explain why, as it was pretty much what I was looking for.


Probably because it's "just another Omega"....

Title: Re: Tackling probably failed cambelt
Post by: TheBoy on 17 November 2007, 09:16:04
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To be honest, I need to take the quickest option, I am being too inconvenienced by not having wheels!
That will be a swap for a working tractor then ;D

You have hinted at having my car a few times now - you like it, don't you? :)
Its a nice car. A very nice car. My ideal colour as well. Good compromise being 2.5 manual. Yet for some bizarre reason simply does not appeal to me. And I cant explain why, as it was pretty much what I was looking for.


Probably because it's "just another Omega"....

Don't know. Was (am?) on lookout for silver 2.5/2.6 manual.  Still gutted I missed out on Effone's MV6 due to uncertainties at the time.

Wouldn't mind Edwardmickey's Elite, but out of my range  :'(