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Only fit genuine cam belts.
Started our truck up yesterday morning, engaged first, pulled away and stopped immediately. Had I stalled it? instinct told me before trying to re-start the engine to quickly pop the bonet and reomove the upper 2 cam belt cover bolts/nuts, oh dear loose belt, so either snapped cam belt or had the tensioner let go.
2 hours later with the cover removed and there it was a 20,000 mile old, non genuine cam belt (which I fitted exactly 2 years ago to date) with a nice clean break accross it, the genuine tensioner still in the position I set it at 2 years previous.
Out of curiosity I removed the rocker cover as I could not rotate the cam in any direction by hand, although the crank turned over revolution after revolution with no resistance what so ever. With the rocker cover removed all cam lobes "except piston number 2 exhaust valve" were roughly closed. However the shim from piston number 3 inlet valve was totally dislodged and sitting in no mans land and the bucket and shim arrangement on piston number 2 exhaust valve was on one serious tilted angle (had a bent valve caused it to tip this way?) and why the dislodged exhaust shim.
Had the shim caused the cam to jam up and in the process snapped the belt, or had the belt snapped and caused this scenario? I could understand if the cam had snapped at this point but how the hell can a shim jump out of the bucket recess, has any one experienced this on their truck (1992 2.4 manual surf, ln130). My gut feeling tells me cheap after market belt, for the sake of a couple of quid don't risk it always fit genuine engine parts.
A breif history of the vehicle. I personally imported the truck at Auction in Japan in 2004. It was imacculate in every way and was showing a genuine 56000 Kms (approx 35000 miles). The truck now has around 130000 KMs ( approx 81000 miles) and has been absolutely faultless in every way with none of the head problems that have been experienced by other members. 4 new tyres have recently been fitted along with new water pump,air con and alternator belts. I change the oil religiously every 6000 Kms. It has approx 5 months MOT remaining along with 11 months tax. I fitted a tow bar in 2006 and has been used once to tow my ducati motorcycle. The car has simply been used as a family car and has not been worked hard in any way. All past MOT certs present, the car sails through the test every time. The only real issue is rust to the chrome bumpers, the body and chassis are excellent.
We had reluctantly been planning to sell our trusty surf for a seven seater landcruiser (due to ever increasing family members) I think our decision has now been made. If any one out there is looking for a 2.4, 5 speed, manual Surf please do not hesitate to contact me.
2 hours later with the cover removed and there it was a 20,000 mile old, non genuine cam belt (which I fitted exactly 2 years ago to date) with a nice clean break accross it, the genuine tensioner still in the position I set it at 2 years previous.
Out of curiosity I removed the rocker cover as I could not rotate the cam in any direction by hand, although the crank turned over revolution after revolution with no resistance what so ever. With the rocker cover removed all cam lobes "except piston number 2 exhaust valve" were roughly closed. However the shim from piston number 3 inlet valve was totally dislodged and sitting in no mans land and the bucket and shim arrangement on piston number 2 exhaust valve was on one serious tilted angle (had a bent valve caused it to tip this way?) and why the dislodged exhaust shim.
Had the shim caused the cam to jam up and in the process snapped the belt, or had the belt snapped and caused this scenario? I could understand if the cam had snapped at this point but how the hell can a shim jump out of the bucket recess, has any one experienced this on their truck (1992 2.4 manual surf, ln130). My gut feeling tells me cheap after market belt, for the sake of a couple of quid don't risk it always fit genuine engine parts.
A breif history of the vehicle. I personally imported the truck at Auction in Japan in 2004. It was imacculate in every way and was showing a genuine 56000 Kms (approx 35000 miles). The truck now has around 130000 KMs ( approx 81000 miles) and has been absolutely faultless in every way with none of the head problems that have been experienced by other members. 4 new tyres have recently been fitted along with new water pump,air con and alternator belts. I change the oil religiously every 6000 Kms. It has approx 5 months MOT remaining along with 11 months tax. I fitted a tow bar in 2006 and has been used once to tow my ducati motorcycle. The car has simply been used as a family car and has not been worked hard in any way. All past MOT certs present, the car sails through the test every time. The only real issue is rust to the chrome bumpers, the body and chassis are excellent.
We had reluctantly been planning to sell our trusty surf for a seven seater landcruiser (due to ever increasing family members) I think our decision has now been made. If any one out there is looking for a 2.4, 5 speed, manual Surf please do not hesitate to contact me.
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