Someone on the Grande Punto forum suggested a quick way to change a cam belt without having to lock the various cog wheels in place. The idea is to take out all spark plugs so the engine can be turned easily, then with a Stanley knife cut the existing cam belt all along its length until only half its width remains. Next, place the new belt on the exposed cogs, remove the remains of the old belt and push the new one fully over the cogs. Do you think this would work for a 1.4 twin cam engine?
Technical Short cut for cam belt change
- Thread starter jim cooper
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Technical Short cut for cam belt change
it would work, but it would be way more hassle than doing it properly, and you would probably damage the new belt trying to squeeze it on with it tensioned, and its likely to have the incorrect tension.
If the tension pulley was removed first that should help slip the new belt on without stretching it?
belt would just fall off most likely once the tension is released.
you may as well just mark the pulleys up, and remove the belt, iv done plenty and with the pistons half way in the timing up position, the camshaft has not moved at all once the belt has been removed, to put the belt back on you would need to move the camshaft pulley forward slightly so you could put the belt on, then move it it back again once the belt is on.
you may as well just mark the pulleys up, and remove the belt, iv done plenty and with the pistons half way in the timing up position, the camshaft has not moved at all once the belt has been removed, to put the belt back on you would need to move the camshaft pulley forward slightly so you could put the belt on, then move it it back again once the belt is on.
sounds like a sure fire way to brick an engine if you ask me! the theory is sound but in reality, after the belt has stretched, youll never be able to line it up again correctly.
the 1.2/1.4 iirc is a piece of cake to time up anyway... you want challenge? try fiats 1.6 16v or the 2.0 16v fitted to the coupes and alfas.
exactly!!!
our 1.6 belt had stretched quiet a bit just before i changed it, in fact it was about 1/2 tooth stretched over 20-30 teeth if memory servers, if i had done the belt change this way then the new belt would have been a few teeth out and would have destroyed the engine.
cam belt changes are pretty easy with the correct tools, and i would imagine a lot quicker the correct way (well the 1.6 16v was anyways and Ive done 5 belt changes on them now).
