1300 - My first cambelt change (ever) : Checklist

[peteracs]

Well done!

[Modano]

Hello
I'm back after a very long break.

The good news is that now my son is old enough to help me !

So basically, the current status.
- The new bearing and tensioner pulley are in place. ALL 3 bolts (3-4-5 in the picture) are loosened AND the spring is NOT engaged (see picture)
- Water pulley was removed, markers all in place, pictures taken, old belt out
- New belt on.

A bit surprisingly, it was easy to fit the new one. It's a bit loose on the outer end.
And it seems both complicated and risky to put back the spring in place with the belt on, and not sure this would be the proper way to do, or possible at all.

Should I try (which way or tools would your recommend) to put the spring back with the belt on, or remove the belt, put the tensioner spring on, and install the belt (but this time, with much more tension) ?

[peteracs]

Hi

You need everything installed prior to installing the belt over the pulleys. If you have installed the belt over the crank pulley already you can leave that in place, but the tensioner, spring etc all need to be in place prior to fitting the belt. From memory the tensioner can be locked so that it exerts minimum tension on the belt whilst you install the belt and then release to get the correct tension.

Peter

[SanRemo78]

Check the condition of your lower wishbones too, that bush looks perished so you may have some unwanted play upsetting the handling of the car!

I'd echo what Peter says about fitting the belt but I think (from memory of doing this 30 plus years ago) the tensioner can be left slack to instal the belt. Once it's over the crankshaft and top pulley wheels and the tensioner wheel you can move the wheel by hand, nip it up on the bolt, attach the spring and release the bolt. Then rotate the engine a couple of revolutions to check timing marks align and then finally tighten up the tensioner bolts. But please check that routine with the Haynes manual or the Lancia one!

Guy

[Modano]

Thanks for your replies.
Yes, a lot of bushes are burnt, that will be another job
I will try to put back the spring, loosen the tensioner pulley as much as it can be to release some slack, and then put the belt again.

PS : I also noticed on the picture that there is a slight offset on the crank , so anyway it had to be done again

[Nigel]

As already said, the tensioner should be fully assembled and working prior
to fitting the belt.
Push or lever the pully to its 'off' position,lock the bolt in that position, then fit the belt.
It will go on easily. Then slacken the locking bolt, allowing the pulley to
apply tension to the belt. Lock the bolt again, pull the belt at the tensioner area
to align the crank and cams, slacken and retighten the locking bolt again.
Now rotate the engine to check all the timing marks.
Once checked, now slacken the locking bolt again and apply a bit more tension
than the pulley spring applies, lock again.
Now check that you can't roll the belt more than 45 degrees between the cam pulleys.
The tension should now be correct.
Now tighten the other two bolts. Finished.

Nigel

[Ferrit]

well done you and getting this done.  After doing timing belts on all sorts of cars doing a Beta timing belt is quite easy.  Just take your time and keep checking timing marks.  Guy Crofts book says once you have tensioned up and tightened the tensioners back up before the final torque up, rotate the engine back the other way and see if the belt goes really slack between the aux shaft and the inlet pulley.  It shouldnt.  Hope that makes sense.