Oh bugger! (Cambelt swap tale of woe)

Marks DTM Calib · 02 February 2007, 08:48:27

Yes it is but, you have to apply a fair bit of force...

If you turn the crank the wrong way (easily done with a ratchet set wrong) then the tensioner unloads the belt and the 3-4 cam wheels fly round!

So the belt is off?

If so then turn the crank backwards to 60 deg before TDC.

Then rotate the cams to align the markings and fit the locking tools. Move the crank back to TDC with the locking tool fitted and start again......

r.welfare · 02 February 2007, 09:15:48

Thanks Mark. E45 Torx bit to rotate the cams then?

60deg before TDC - notch at 4 o'clock?

Marks DTM Calib · 02 February 2007, 09:23:47

Yep...4 Oclock is fine.......Thought it was a T50 torx....could be wrong though.

Dont use a ratchet to turn the cams, use a bar, as they will spring over...!

r.welfare · 02 February 2007, 09:34:00

Hmm, will have to nab a bar from my neighbour, all mine are ratcheted!

Presumably I will need to rotate each cam sprocket a couple of turns to make sure I feel resistance at all times, so none of the valves have bent?

I'm a bit worried about bent valves. When I cranked round the first time (the right way, with the belt on and everything aligned), there was a lot of resistance at certain points then it would just go smoothly for a bit. Is this normal, i.e. cams loading and unloading?

Sorry for all the dense questions!

Marks DTM Calib · 02 February 2007, 09:48:19

This is normal as the pistons go through the compression stroke...

r.welfare · 02 February 2007, 10:18:51

Phew!

Final question - when turning the cam sprockets, do I do 1, 2, 3 then 4, or 3-4 first then 1-2?

Thanks very much Mark - your knowledge of such matters is much appreciated!

Essex_Andy · 02 February 2007, 10:34:54

QuotePhew!

Final question - when turning the cam sprockets, do I do 1, 2, 3 then 4, or 3-4 first then 1-2?

Thanks very much Mark - your knowledge of such matters is much appreciated!

Providing the crank is 60 degrees before TDC doesnt really matter what cam you turn first....but according to the DVD you must time/degree cams 3+4 BEFORE 1+2

Marks DTM Calib · 02 February 2007, 10:58:58

Its the crank that needs to be 60 deg before TDC......not the cams.

When re-setting the cmas....it doesn't matter which bank you do first but, do do them a bank at a time....

When resetting the timing its the 3/4 bank first and then the 1/2, as per the DVD

Essex_Andy · 02 February 2007, 11:15:34

QuoteIts the crank that needs to be 60 deg before TDC......not the cams.

When re-setting the cmas....it doesn't matter which bank you do first but, do do them a bank at a time....

When resetting the timing its the 3/4 bank first and then the 1/2, as per the DVD

type O ...no idea why I put cam when I was thinking crank...doh

r.welfare · 02 February 2007, 20:20:32

Right - I'll have a go at sorting it all out tomorrow. I'll get someone else to turn the key once it's all back together though!

Fingers crossed no valves bent - I'd be surprised, as I'm a 12-stone weakling - Mark makes turning the crank look effortless on the DVD!!!

r.welfare · 13 February 2007, 18:25:55

The car has just come back from the garage, all back together and running! They charged me 2hrs labour for putting the belt back on, tensioning it properly, refitting the pulleys and new aux belt, then reassembling all the connectors and pipes

So many thanks to all and I'm happy I didn't bend any valves. Check engine light came on 500yds after pulling away though

, time for a paperclip test methinks.

Dave-C · 13 February 2007, 19:44:30

I must just add, then I'll shut up and listen, I'm doing mine soon! TDC = piston No1 is at the top, to prove this whip the plug out to comfirm if necessary...

Ok I've shut up now!!!

DC x

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Oh bugger! (Cambelt swap tale of woe)