T -belt cond

[Rotor4]

I just thought I'd ask for comments about this timing belt condition ?. It has a number of very fine cracks on the belt surface,but overall teeth & sides look sound. The car has 250,000 klms & the woman I bought it off had no service history on it, according to her a family mechanic did all the servicing. So I have no idea when it was changed,but I intend doing it in a few months after I source the parts. The car will be only lightly used till then so hopefully it will be ok till then.

 

[PP200t]

I wouldn’t risk that personally but I worry about timing belts anyway and had one done for peace of mind when I bought my 172 years ago, despite being told it was done not long before purchase.

 

[Rotor4]

Thanks for your reply & I understand your apprehension on the subject & like many of us that are mechanically minded are fully aware of the implications of a failure,so it tends to sit in the back of one's mind. The reason I'm putting it off for a few months is this car has reasonable gearbox leak,so thought I would fix it & replace the clutch then do the timing belt work with gearbox out at the same time. It's a bit of a risk but I have seen much worse examples in workshops being replaced that were still in service up to then. Though it would have been nice in the design stage if manufactures thought about how to make the job of servicing a little easier rather than having to pull the front end off the car,maybe that's just asking a bit too much ?.

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

Its not normally the timing belt that fails its the aux belt failing and wrapping its self around the timing belt and valves kissing pistons.

A retired specialist on here told me he used to use old timing belts to lift the weight of the entire F4R block once. Gives you an idea of how strong the timing belt is.

If you’re in any doubt all, change both.

 

[Rotor4]

Interesting about the aux belt failure,I have checked it & it looks ok & the roller guides are not noisy currently. I'm not doubting the strength of the T-belt considering they are exposed to high rotational g-forces etc. And yes exactly my thoughts regarding the replacement of aux belts & tensioner. I will also do the engine radiator hoses as well as any other dodgy bits I spot (within reason),as I don't want to revisit anything I can replace with it pulled apart at the time.

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

Interesting about the aux belt failure,I have checked it & it looks ok & the roller guides are not noisy currently. I'm not doubting the strength of the T-belt considering they are exposed to high rotational g-forces etc. And yes exactly my thoughts regarding the replacement of aux belts & tensioner. I will also do the engine radiator hoses as well as any other dodgy bits I spot (within reason),as I don't want to revisit anything I can replace with it pulled apart at the time.

Its the ‘looks okay’ ethos that f***s it mate.

Some belts can look as new as the one already doing the work so unless you’ve had it changed under your ownership or have receipts to the previous owner having it done, why leave it to chance?