Timing Belt Worry - 1.8T

planenut · 9th March 2019, 22:19

(1.8T) Amongst other things I have carried out this week, finally finishing off with checking the timing after tensioning the cam drive belt. The suggested test is to rotate the crankshaft twice to see if the marks all line up - however, if the marks were noted, surely, two rotations of the crank shaft would mean that everything would be lined up anyway?

Would the crank shaft be able to be rotated if that peril of pistons hitting the valves was existing?

trikey · 10th March 2019, 07:25

The belt when tensioned can pull one of the sprockets one tooth out of alignment, you are ok turning the engine over by hand even if you are a couple of teeth off the marks, you would be surprised the amount of 1.8s running around with the timing set one tooth out!

planenut · 10th March 2019, 08:09

Many thanks Andy; I followed all the directions and procedures, but I will probably take all the belt covers off again to recheck the positions of the marks and actually place "height" testing dowels in the spark plug sockets.

Mike Noc · 10th March 2019, 09:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by planenut

Would the crank shaft be able to be rotated if that peril of pistons hitting the valves was existing?

There is no peril turning the engine gently by hand (with the spark plugs removed) even if the timing is well out - you will feel the pistons touching the valves without inflicting any damage.

roverbarmy · 10th March 2019, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Noc

There is no peril turning the engine gently by hand (with the spark plugs removed) even if the timing is well out - you will feel the pistons touching the valves without inflicting any damage.

Unless your "hand" is neanderthal!

planenut · 10th March 2019, 11:06

Luckily, not a Neanderthal; took the top belt cover off then the coils and plugs out, carefully turning the crankshaft using extension pieces, I aligned the marks, then using one of the old engine bolts (cleaned) checked the heights of all pistons and all appears good.

Just got to go out to get some more oil, having used a fair amount to start to replenish and now leaving that to move around the block. Then will try a restart later. I have put a new head gasket in, along with water pump, belt tensioner and timing belt, oh, and new manifold studs.

mbev51 · 10th March 2019, 11:18

Hi, I've done loads of timing belts but none for a couple of years when I did our mg tf. From memory the knack is to mate the belt on main pulleys and tension it towards the auto tensioner, if you do it the other way it can be a tooth out. I've put a belt on one tooth out in the past, a diesel, it was just a bit noisier on start up.

planenut · 10th March 2019, 14:42

Many thanks for the advice peoples. All went well with the start up (apart from overheating which must be due to a coolant air lock) so it seems that everything is in the right place.

planenut · 11th March 2019, 09:59

Quote:

Just got to go out to get some more oil, having used a fair amount to start to replenish and now leaving that to move around the block. Then will try a restart later. I have put a new head gasket in, along with water pump, belt tensioner and timing belt, oh, and new manifold studs.

Why did I not do the thermostat at the same time? doh!

planenut · 18th March 2019, 19:36

With steam emitting from the front area, forward of the radiator, it seemed the only way to find the fault was to take the front end off, so I've done that today......

Gonna' get steamed up tomorrow!

9th March 2019, 22:19	#1
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,954 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Timing Belt Worry - 1.8T (1.8T) Amongst other things I have carried out this week, finally finishing off with checking the timing after tensioning the cam drive belt. The suggested test is to rotate the crankshaft twice to see if the marks all line up - however, if the marks were noted, surely, two rotations of the crank shaft would mean that everything would be lined up anyway? Would the crank shaft be able to be rotated if that peril of pistons hitting the valves was existing?

10th March 2019, 07:25	#2
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,766 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	The belt when tensioned can pull one of the sprockets one tooth out of alignment, you are ok turning the engine over by hand even if you are a couple of teeth off the marks, you would be surprised the amount of 1.8s running around with the timing set one tooth out! __________________ Lest we forget..

10th March 2019, 08:09	#3
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,954 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Many thanks Andy; I followed all the directions and procedures, but I will probably take all the belt covers off again to recheck the positions of the marks and actually place "height" testing dowels in the spark plug sockets.

10th March 2019, 11:06	#6
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,954 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Luckily, not a Neanderthal; took the top belt cover off then the coils and plugs out, carefully turning the crankshaft using extension pieces, I aligned the marks, then using one of the old engine bolts (cleaned) checked the heights of all pistons and all appears good. Just got to go out to get some more oil, having used a fair amount to start to replenish and now leaving that to move around the block. Then will try a restart later. I have put a new head gasket in, along with water pump, belt tensioner and timing belt, oh, and new manifold studs.

10th March 2019, 11:18	#7
mbev51 Banned Removed Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Removed Posts: 1,343 Thanks: 171 Thanked 315 Times in 223 Posts	Hi, I've done loads of timing belts but none for a couple of years when I did our mg tf. From memory the knack is to mate the belt on main pulleys and tension it towards the auto tensioner, if you do it the other way it can be a tooth out. I've put a belt on one tooth out in the past, a diesel, it was just a bit noisier on start up.

10th March 2019, 14:42	#8
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,954 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Many thanks for the advice peoples. All went well with the start up (apart from overheating which must be due to a coolant air lock) so it seems that everything is in the right place.

18th March 2019, 19:36	#10
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,954 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	With steam emitting from the front area, forward of the radiator, it seemed the only way to find the fault was to take the front end off, so I've done that today...... Gonna' get steamed up tomorrow!