Arrgh! Cambelt too tight!

[Albannach]

After all the reading ive done i can't see a wrong way to do it, ive even had the cover off & had a really good look at it.

Both engines are a doddle. 4 Hours for a 2.4 and about an hour for a free leeter. It's hard to do it wrong, given all the info and 'How To' threads on here.

[si tate]

The belt on the 3.0 can be changed within an hour, even if you haven't done one before.
A 2.4 will need several hours.

Both engines are a doddle. 4 Hours for a 2.4 and about an hour for a free leeter. It's hard to do it wrong, given all the info and 'How To' threads on here.

Well i'll be doing it on a weekend so before i lift the bonnet i'll make sure i take the laptop in the garage & check that you two are online when i start.

[Albannach]

From a standing start (in Denny) I could change a timing belt on a 2.4 surf, in Malta. Then get drunk and still be home in time for work on Monday.

You'll be fine.

[hellmett]

re

Baws to it!

I'll change the bugger again!

I've done it 4 times now and never a problem until this!

I think it's purely due to the belt being put 'the other way around' as davec170 said.

Normally I wouldn't think twice about changing it but due to my upcoming deployment to Afghanistan (away to RTMC on 29th November) I'm panicking to get things 'sorted' before I go so I can be smug and content!

(It's a bloke thing, you'll all know what I mean!)

Cheers for the info guys!

Gary

PS Just like to state for the record, what a joy the Surf is to work on without that 'pain in the arse' aircon rad getting in the way!

[wishbone]

I'm not sure that the 'self adjusting' of the tensioner is true. I believe the manual says that the spring tensions the belt with the bolt slack and then you set the bolt to the proper torque and that's it. Once set it cannot self adjust.

Loving the times for doing this. If you've never done a 2.4 before allow all day and at least 6 cans of beer...... next time it's only 4 cans.

Enough practice and you will do it in less time than it takes to get the tools out of the shed and the beers out of the fridge

[BUSHWHACKER]

It doesn't 'adjust' the tension, it keeps the belt tensioned, so it needs to be able to move.

[Albannach]

I'm not sure that the 'self adjusting' of the tensioner is true. I believe the manual says that the spring tensions the belt with the bolt slack and then you set the bolt to the proper torque and that's it. Once set it cannot self adjust.

The bolt gets torqued, otherwise it wouldn't be fitted correctly. It doesn't tighten the tensioner, if it did, the tensioner wouldn't tension.

[wishbone]

I thought that the spring sets the tension whilst the lock bolt is loose, then you lock it at that tension by torquing the bolt up ?

ie once it's torqued the tensioner cannot move..


Rob.

[BUSHWHACKER]

I thought that the spring sets the tension whilst the lock bolt is loose, then you lock it at that tension by torquing the bolt up ?

ie once it's torqued the tensioner cannot move..


Rob.

If it was fixed in position, the belt would get slacker as it got older and start whipping.

[wishbone]

It doesn't 'adjust' the tension, it keeps the belt tensioned, so it needs to be able to move.

That's what I was referring to - I don't believe that it is able to move. I believe the spring tensions it and then it is bolted in that position for ever more.

I've only done the timing belt 4 times on a 2.4 so maybe I'm mistaken but I followed the Toyota manuals to the 'T'

[Albannach]

That's not my understanding of how a tensioner works. as I said earlier, I may be wrong; but I'm pretty sure the Surf tensioner bols are shouldered to allow the tensioner to move.

All the tensioners I can remember are free moving, even with the mountings tightened.

[wishbone]

I'll check next time I'm down the breakers... Maybe I just assumed the lock bolt did actually lock it all in place. It does make more sense for the spring to be in action all the time. It's just when I stripped my 2.4 I dont recall the tensioner being moveable.

[Albannach]

The spring on a 2.4, or the 'inteligent' hydraulic adjuster on a free leeter, would be pointless if they were 'set and forget' things.

[BUSHWHACKER]

The spring on a 2.4, or the 'inteligent' hydraulic adjuster on a free leeter, would be pointless if they were 'set and forget' things.

It would just be an idler.

[wishbone]

Don't see why - loads of cars have a 'set the initial tension and forget type thing'

My corsa has an arrow marker that you have to twist the water pump pulley around to set the tension with. Once set that's it.