Timing Belt Tit-up

[joolie]

I was changing my timing belt today (well, the last 2 days) slowly working my way through the manual, finding out what was what.

The first time round it didnt work, timing was well out, smoked and clugged and stalled, so i fugured it was the tension or fitted wrong. So i tried again. . .

Second time was going o so well, stripped it down to the belt in record time, got better control over adjustment and a much better fit . . .

 

But then when it came to turning the front wheel, it was jammed, god knows what, crankshaft or camshaft ?? but anyways heres the really messed up bit, I decided to give it a whorl anyway, thought I should push the car a little and see if the jam unlocks, thaought about looking on the internet for some idea, naaa lets just give it a shot, so I turned the engine a couple of times. . . well quite a few, (someone out there knows whats coming next) . . . a loud kind of grinding twisting sound occoured, I had a look at the engine again and there. . a niceley bent camshaft sproket (or whatever its called).

 

So now that youve enjoyed reading that little story, and are grinning with smugness, please, let me know. . . what have I done!!!!!!

 

Is the camshaft shafted? is the whole engine buggered, or can it be fixed? why did it lock? and what should I have done?? aaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!

 

J

 

please do not respond in emoicons!

[Johndouglas]

You've got the timing badly out when you put the belt on. By attempting to start the engine, the pistons have come up when the valves were opening. Consequently one or two pistons have hit the opening valves. Valves will be bent and camshaft in two pieces. You may have got away without damage to pistons. Did you use three bolts in the timing holes and a rod in the flywheel?

[spanners]

hi the best thing to do is buy a second hand head complete and fit that ?

[mechuccio]

or did you perhaps lock a sprocket or pully and forgot that? in that case you might just get away with a new pully and belt.

If the timing was indeed that bad that the pistons got in contact with the valves than a new head could be the solution indeed!

 

edit: did not see that your sprocket got bent in that case you better replace the head.

How did you check the timing by the way the second time you've placed the belt? where you sure that it should be okay? because in that case it could still be very possible that a lock somewhere has been forgotten.

[selwyn.d]

I was changing my timing belt today (well, the last 2 days) slowly working my way through the manual, finding out what was what.

The first time round it didnt work, timing was well out, smoked and clugged and stalled, so i fugured it was the tension or fitted wrong. So i tried again. . .

Second time was going o so well, stripped it down to the belt in record time, got better control over adjustment and a much better fit . . .

 

But then when it came to turning the front wheel, it was jammed, god knows what, crankshaft or camshaft ?? but anyways heres the really messed up bit, I decided to give it a whorl anyway, thought I should push the car a little and see if the jam unlocks, thaought about looking on the internet for some idea, naaa lets just give it a shot, so I turned the engine a couple of times. . . well quite a few, (someone out there knows whats coming next) . . . a loud kind of grinding twisting sound occoured, I had a look at the engine again and there. . a niceley bent camshaft sproket (or whatever its called).

 

So now that youve enjoyed reading that little story, and are grinning with smugness, please, let me know. . . what have I done!!!!!!

 

Is the camshaft shafted? is the whole engine buggered, or can it be fixed? why did it lock? and what should I have done?? aaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!

 

J

 

please do not respond in emoicons!

[selwyn.d]

I was changing my timing belt today (well, the last 2 days) slowly working my way through the manual, finding out what was what.

The first time round it didnt work, timing was well out, smoked and clugged and stalled, so i fugured it was the tension or fitted wrong. So i tried again. . .

Second time was going o so well, stripped it down to the belt in record time, got better control over adjustment and a much better fit . . .

 

But then when it came to turning the front wheel, it was jammed, god knows what, crankshaft or camshaft ?? but anyways heres the really messed up bit, I decided to give it a whorl anyway, thought I should push the car a little and see if the jam unlocks, thaought about looking on the internet for some idea, naaa lets just give it a shot, so I turned the engine a couple of times. . . well quite a few, (someone out there knows whats coming next) . . . a loud kind of grinding twisting sound occoured, I had a look at the engine again and there. . a niceley bent camshaft sproket (or whatever its called).

 

So now that youve enjoyed reading that little story, and are grinning with smugness, please, let me know. . . what have I done!!!!!!

 

Is the camshaft shafted? is the whole engine buggered, or can it be fixed? why did it lock? and what should I have done?? aaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!

 

J

 

please do not respond in emoicons!

[Ronin]

Yeah it does sound like you left a locking bolt in maybe....

 

Don't worry, I won't take the micky as we have all been there and done that at one stage m8. Don't let it put you off though. You will soon get the hang of it...

All I can say is a golden rule about timing belts.

 

"If it doesn't go right first time or even if you have a feeling it's not quite right, don't attempt to start the engine. It's then best left to a mechanic to sort out...then blame him if it goes wrong" lol

 

This will cheer you up though.

A mate of mine is a subaru technician. He has more certificates than you can shake a stick at. He gets hold of a brand new pro-drive to work on for a pre delivery inspection and service...... He's workin merrily away looking forward to the "test drive" and checks the oil.... Only trouble is he leaves the dipstick lying on the top of the engine cover near the intercooler

 

Yep that's right he forgot and only remembered when he was caining it up a country road and hears this almighty bang and clatter! He pulls over and lifts the bonnet, waving away the smoke he notices the handle of the dipstick poking through the edge of one of the cam covers! how it managed to drop between an inspection gap in the casing and not on the road surface

nobody knows.

He learned a valuable lesson and an expensive one plus the lads at work have never ever let him forget it!

 

Even the pro's get it wrong sometimes m8 :rolleyes: