Suddenly no power

[MattNoVAT]

Wow - that is bad luck Gerhard.  Did they use an old stock cam belt? 

I always buy new ones rather than use one thats a few years old but unused.

Hope they get it fixed soon.

[Gerhard]

Brand spanking new. I saw the belt with my own eye's. If it was not for that, there would have been one neutered mechanic walking in Durban this morning.

Holding thumbs that no other major damaged was done. 

[Gerhard]

Hi Matt,

I just read your reply again. Sorry did not realized what you meant. I am now not so sure about the age of the belt. But be that as it may, I am still holding the garage responsible for it. Which I presume they will pass on to the belt supplier.

[MattNoVAT]

Quite right that the Garage should be responsible for footing the bill and sorting out with the belt supplier.

It's a shame that you now have to be without a car..... well your son has to be without a car.   

[Gerhard]

You 100% correct. I am without a car again, seeing that the young man must attend classes. But then I get to drive the wife car's......... 

[Hawk]

That's unbelievably bad luck - hope the garage comes good and picks up the bill

[Gerhard]

They will, they have no choice.

[HFStuart]

That's unbelievably bad luck - hope the garage comes good and picks up the bill

So unbelievable that I don't think luck has anything to do with it!

It must have been a fault with the belt or with the installation. I hope it was the belt.

[Thotos]

It must have been a fault with the belt or with the installation. I hope it was the belt.

When it happened to me on a different car (Maserati Biturbo) it was a fault with the lubrication feed causing one of the camshafts to seize. I doubt this is the case with the Lancia Twin Cam but it's worth checking to make sure there are no mechanical faults that caused the belt to fail (seized or jammed camshaft, seized or jammed distributor/fuel pump drive or shaft, seized tensioner bearing etc.) I'm sure there must be another reason why the belt has failed so quickly; it can't just be a faulty belt if it was new.

[thecolonel]

Could easily be just a failed belt, we had the
odd new one fail on vauxhalls, just claimed
under a parts warranty and vauxhall paid the
bill.

[droptop]

Just read this post and I'm sorry to hear how much trouble you had.
It's part of the "joys" of ownership I suppose.
It does lead to a question though. Where can I get those steel water pipes?
Mine are holding together thanks to a MIG welder and Holts Rust Remedy and I'm terrified they'll let go some day.
I don't mind replacing parts and actually take pleasure in the knowledge I have improved the car, but I really hate having to be towed home for some failure I knowingly neglected to prevent.
Any information on replacement pipes would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and good luck with the car in the future.

[Gerhard]

First, thank you all for the kind words and support it is highly appreciated.

Update: The jury is still out on what caused the belt to fail.

Droptop, I noted that you are based in Ireland, so unfortunately it will be of no help to give you the South African contact's detail. Regarding the pipes, the originals was due for replacement, and it was recommended that it is replaced with stainless steel one's. Little bit more expensive, and I am sure they will now last until the car is rusted (yes I know) away, but worth the money spend. As we could not find OEM's the old pipes were used as a template and with great care and lots of measurements, new one's were created. Must say it took them 2 times to get the correct angles, etc. O yes the other problem that was picked up, do not even think to try a thin walled pipe. It just crack when ever it was bend. That all said, if you are prepared to carry the cost of getting it to you and are happy with the manufacturing costs, which if I remember correctly was R1, 400.00 (including all the fuel pipes), I will by all means get them done here for you.

[droptop]

Appreciate the information.
I was considering getting them made up here, but I thought maybe you had a source of after-market ones.
They're still cheaper than having the engine overheat!
I thought the seized tensioner was the cause of the belt failure on your engine?

[Gerhard]

No problem, one thing that I should mention, even with bending it to the old pipes measurements and shape, putting it on the engine, some small bending still had to be done. And it was here that the pipes would crack, as they did not have the right equipment at the garage for this finale shaping.

Yes, in absolute agreement with you, way cheaper than a seized engine.

[Gerhard]

Update, Christiaan and i went to pick the Lancia up this afternoon, again the culprit was the cam belt, factory failure, hope that all will be going well for the young man from here forwards.

Again, all the valves etc. were stuffed when the cam belt went, but this time, we (read I) did not had to pay. Haven't driven it yet as I had to shoot back to the office for a meeting.

O well, here's hoping that all will be well.

[Gerhard]

Alas not to be.

Terrible pinging in the engine, back to the garage. Heavens know when we can pick it up again.

I am getting to the point now, were just out of stubbornness, I will continue with the car until all is sorted.

My wife only shake her head, and mumble something to the effect of stupid idiot, money waster etc........

How do you explain to her that it is a Lancia and more so a Beta Coupe................

[droptop]

Bouquet of flowers?
Show her this site?
Carry on and ignore her?
Show her this site?
At least the car understands!!!

[Neil-yaj396]

Almost certainly not timed up properly after. Ew belt etc. ?