1991 Hymer 534 motorhome Fiat 280 1.9 TD. Motor 280A1.000. Version 280MSX1

I was going to get my cambelt changed at Dave Newell in West Midlands but they said they couldn't find the tool for setting the tension on the belt.

Any help? I'd still like to have it done at Dave's since we're nearby, and he's got a good reputation on the motorhome forums, so ideally I'd like be able to get this tool. If not, I could have it done somewhere else in southern England, anywhere from Gloucester to London to Dover.

Dave writes:

For this particular engine there is a special tool for setting the correct tension on the belt. Yes it could be done without the tool but if the belt subsequently failed because it was over or under tensioned it would become my problem. As the op is about to tour Europe in this motorhome I'm not prepared to take the risk of having to arrange recovery from a foreign country in the event of a failure. I've tried all avenues to locate this tool but with no success, three local tool specialists have failed to locate one as has the local fiat agent.

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I wonder if all garages would be as fastidious as him, and others would just do it without the tool. Is that a risk worth taking, or is it better to insist that a garage use such a tool?

Hi
The said Tensioning tool is a weight/lever type which I doubt you would find anywhere these days I would guess most mechanics these days wouldn't know what they were looking at & if they had one its probably been chucked it out with the rubbish!
Attachments show what the tool looks like (number 10) & specs to use on the 1.9TD, again there are two different specs depending on engine number.
Not much help I know unless someone knows what the 120mm weight position is in ft-lb / N/m? also - http://replace-timing-belt.com/how-...ucato-230-1-9-td-1994-1998-engine-no-1723291/
Cheers

That's a great explanation. I called a few official Fiat service shops and the folks on the phone were confident they'd have the tension setting tool, but who knows if the mechanics really do use it.

I have never used a belt tension setting tool that was not already built into the pulley set like the Ford 1753 diesel which uses springs that come with the pulley wheels, or the 1.9 VW diesel which is similar. The 1929 Fiat diesel has none of these aids.

Most belt breakages are due to the age of the belt or breakup of the pulley wheel bearings, or foreign matter in the casing. A little variation in tension has to be allowed for as they often run slightly slack as the miles go by.

An experienced mechanic once told me that if you can just turn the belt sideways by 90 degrees on its longest run with finger and thumb then it will come to no harm. If too tight even slightly you will soon have a breakage. But rubber has a limited life both standing still or running round.

My Jeep Compass has only 20,000 miles showing but is 10 years old, and is well overdue for changing as soon as possible, but not the pulleys, they can do plenty more miles before I change them.

good thanks