Checking a cambelt has been done

[Waitey]

Just bought a 172 from a garage.

As part of the sale they did the cambelt. I want to check that they have.

Anyway I can have a look at it to see if its a new belt?

 

[Budgie]

How long ago was it claimed they did it?

 

[domjolly]

Not really mate have you a reciept for the work completed?

 

[Waitey]

Literally yesterday.

 

[Waitey]

Not really mate have you a reciept for the work completed?

Yes, but i want to see a 1 day old belt rather than a 6 year old one.

 

[Budgie]

For simplicity, I'd do a visual check on the auxbelt and the camshaft seals. If they don't look brand new, alarm bells should start ringing.

I'm sure Fred or one of the specialists will have a better idea of what looks tired after a few years that should be changed etc....

 

[MicKPM]

Its hard to tell from the cam-seals as they don't always get covered in oil and sometimes i've even seen them get re-used. Also if a garage claims they've done the cambelt looking for signs of an aux-belt change isn't scientific proof either as chances are they won't have changed that.

The only way to tell for sure is, IMO, to pop the upper timing cover off. You could also ask them for some paperwork to warrant the job but be prepared to get laughed at.

Mick

 

[d4vy]

Depending on the dealer, (from personal experience having worked in the used car market) corners do tend to be cut, meaning costs, so just make sure it's been done, if it's been done they will have a receipt of some kind, even if it's a receipt of the parts (if they have an on-site mechanic and workshop). My old bosses would do anything to try get the car good enough until past the warranty period, so just be careful and don't leave until you have some kind of proof.

 

[Budgie]

Yeah, also the upper timing cover is a doddle to remove.

 

[Gaz_]

Odds on the full kit not being fitted?

Remember, its the actual pulley's not the belts that usually let go

 

[Budgie]

Odds on the full kit not being fitted?

I just phoned Ladbrooks for odds and the guy on the other end must work for BTM, JMS or Birchdown because he's in tears.

 

[plasticmorph]

i tried to find out this as mine had been done when i bought it recently... aparently. K-tec then did the belts for me and showed me a pulley with no less than SIX cracks in it around the bearing! To be honest, from all that i've seen on here, even if they did do it, if it wasnt done by a specialist its worth doing again anyway.

 

[Russ_16v]

Id whip the top belt cover off, easy to do once the engine mount is off and have a look at the belt

 

[Tigger]

How do you get that top cover off, support the engine with a jack and undo the o/s upper mount?

 

[sideways danny]

i had this in today, car bought 2 weeks ago, with belts done about 7k ago, but no reciept


rocker cover had been resealed....without cleaning the old sealer off, and the new cam seals had been fitted on the piss. Leaked nicely on the belt

and the timing was out by a mile

i forgot to get a pic of the tensioner, which was also nowhere near the right place

 

[Russ_16v]

How do you get that top cover off, support the engine with a jack and undo the o/s upper mount?

yes mate, support with a jack, undo the top mount and the 3 bolrs on top of the belt cover

 

[Tigger]

Handy enough then - have a set of K-Tec mounts and a painted belt cover to go onto mine as part of "Operation Mint" lol

 

[Russ_16v]

The mounts are easy to change too, only problem iv ever had is getting the box mount off as they are usually pretty well on

 

[sideways danny]

The mounts are easy to change too, only problem iv ever had is getting the box mount off as they are usually pretty well on

socket on an extension, onto the end of the stud (protects the thread and stops you slipping) then hit with a hammer. Pop

 

[Russ_16v]

Good tip Danny, i didnt have an extension to hand the first time i took one off, that was a struggle lol

 

[Fred@BTM]

do you always leave the plugs in Danny? SO much easier to do the job with them out!

 

[sideways danny]

do you always leave the plugs in Danny? SO much easier to do the job with them out!

normally take one out to help find TDC. Quite like having some resistance tbh

 

[Fred@BTM]

more of a t**t to get the timing **** on with them in i find

 

[sideways danny]

Only time I've had an issue with getting timing right was when the pulley locking tool started to wear out the washers and the sprockets slipped. New washers every usage until I bought a brand new tool

 

[Fred@BTM]

i binned the standard washers years ago, they're crap!

 

[sideways danny]

ok for a while, bend and crush too easily then start to peen over the edges of the slot. Constant f**king maintenance with these things.

 

[lemonnobby]

im glad you said that fred i use make do washers as i call them