One for the V6 boys.....
 

Here we have a front timing belt I removed from a 190 a couple of weeks back....

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...1&d=1495575345


Note the date code......

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...1&d=1495575359

And then the condition......

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...1&d=1495575378

So a genuine belt manufactured on the 24th of September 2007, fitted in November 2011 and replaced less than six years later in May 2017, the car it was fitted to had covered just over 38,000 miles since fitting.

The ancillary components, water pump, tensioner and idler were in perfect condition, and the belt was not contaminated.

Discussion welcome on this one ;)

Brian :D

My personal opinion of the V6 timing belts is that it's more luck than Judgement that they can last so long!

I think that as the load is shared by many, rather than 1 belt that they can last a while longer......
However, the Ford's I've come come across with 'long life' timing belts (80-100k) are considerably MORE heavy duty than the Rover ones :p:

Changed the timing belt on Dad's 25 a few months ago, 28k miles from New, how the thing was still together defies logic, it was 14 years old!

I assume the belt is still in one piece, so I'm not worried at all. :panic:

I bought a ' new ' genuine cambelt kit that I also had fitted in 2011. It was date stamped 2005! Genuinely nervous, but will be interested to see the condition of these when I have them changed.

Is it possible that they have deteriorated more quickly because of the lower miles? :shrug:

Maybe some debris in the timing pulley or drive
It seems to be overlooked, but debris can cause a multitude of problems on the timing belt & pulley.
Dirt on the teeth can abrade the belt and oil can attack the belt materials.
Also misalignment can cause issues, not so sure on the V6 but come across it before on other engines

Interesting pictures tho mate

It was as clean as a whistle in there Mick, car has only just wound over 80,000 miles, and this is it's third set of belts now, each being changed based on time and not mileage.

Not a single bit of gunge on any of the timing gears, no play or roughness in the tensioner bearings or water pump, and even the plastic idler had no signs of cracking.

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...1&d=1495577799

All of the consumable bits and pieces have been replaced as they're now thirteen years old, and you don't want to have to dive back in if you can help it ;)

Brian :D

Around this time last year, I had my belts replaced on mine, they were last changed in october 2009 so they were 6.5 years old. The car had done less than 50.000 kms (so about 35.000 miles) during that time...and my main belt was showing some cracks too...though not as severe as these.

I calculate that this belt, with a date code of 07391 156, was manufactured in 2007 week no. 39 (w/c 24th September 2007). :shrug:

Maybe that is the reason - it is an old belt, outside of it's service life.

In every V6 belt job I've ever been involved with, it is only the front belt which suffers visible deterioration, the rear belts always look as good as new.

But it is interesting that 50,000 KMs which is a shade over a third of the recommended replacement interval based upon mileage, but overdue on time and your belts were showing signs of cracking.

Perhaps time based replacement rather than simply relying on mileage should be observed :shrug:

Brian :D

Just looks like a piece of rubber to me but nice to see you back Brian :D

Gah, of course you're right Bob, I bet Gnasher didn't tell you either :D

So we have a belt which is nine years old, sat on the shelf for four years prior to being fitted five and a half years ago and has covered less than half of it's recommended mileage change interval..........the plot thickens :}

Brian :D