One for the V6 boys.....

[jr.ewing*]

My old belts were dated 2009 and looked perfect, idler tensioner looked good also, wish I never bothered changing them knowing what I know now but at least the new parts will give me peace of mind and new belts dated 2017

[roverbarmy]

My old escort diesel went one month over the time period (low,low miles) and snapped. Taught me a good lesson!
Nice to have you back Brian.
Mike

[Mike Noc]

Originally Posted by marinabrian

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.

Brian

Good to see you back Brian.

I suppose there is far more load on the front belt - each rear belt only drives a single camshaft, and unlike the rear belts, the front belt is also flexed in both directions as it travels round.

[Bolin]

I thought that belts had a 'shelf life' of 10 years and then a service life of 6 years i.e. you could fit right now a belt made in June 2007 and then replace it in 6 years time? (in theory).

[ChestersDad]

Looks like the sort of thing that happens with Chinese rubber! Chinese copy maybe? Would a Dayco belt, with or without Rover stamped upon it, have gone like that?

[KWIL]

Somewhere Gates publish a storage guide, for their 8 year shelf life, but the conditions will no doubt be very particular. I would want a very short time to have elapsed since manufacture.

[p2roverman]

I can see a time when our cars are a bit older that manufacture of timing belts will cease. Has this been considered? Should we be looking at the design and manufacture of a set of proper chainwheels so that the life of our engines and cars can continue almost indefinitely by replacing a rubber belt with a multilink chain?

[Lovel]

Originally Posted by marinabrian

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.

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

The belt is a concern, but Its the consumable bits I would also be worried about as I feel the quality of parts can vary considerably especially the tensioner. Hope they are of INA manufacture and the pump well that's a sort of lucky dip

[jn12]

mmmmm MGR workshop timing tools

Interesting post and pictures Brian, it makes you wonder! Think I might check the dates on mine now

Just out of curiosity have you seen many tensioner pulleys that have either been adjusted incorrectly? and or not had the retaining bolt nipped up and therefore collapsed on to arm of the tensioner?

See pic of mine, not only does the hydraulic piston fully extend and partially come out of contact with the pulley the belt becomes very tight at that point and slack near the water pump. Belt was also very shiny and lost of belt dust around. I always follow the INA guidance that was issued back in 2006. Unfortunately Xpart never sent it out.

John

[rrobson]

It would be nice to see a comparison between that belt and one of the same age which has done its interval mileage.

With these types of items, it wouldn't surprise me if the higher mileage belt looked in equal or better condition than the one you've posted pictures...