HOW TO CHANGE A TIMING BELT?

[SteveB]

You won't find a hole for the locking pin on this engine - the pin method wasn't used until the later yamaha black top zetec-s engines like you find in the fiesta and focus. These engines don't have timing marks hence the need for a timing pin, but you do.

 

You can't find the correct tdc locking point until you've got the camshaft cover off because you don't know the camshaft phase until you can see them. You loosen the bolt to finger tight first so you don't loose tdc when you take the crankshaft sprocket off later - and yes, it slips onto a key.

 

 

I thought that there is marks on the sump also to show TDC? I was going to turn engine to line up the mark and then remove rocker head?

 

Sorry - probably confused things by replying to escort4x4 in the same post.

 

 

You have to take the camshaft cover off first because the camshafts turn at half the speed of the crank. TDC is when the timing mark on the crankshaft pulley lines up with the mark on the sump AND the two slots in the camshaft are at their bottom point.

[SORTED-ESCORT]

WELL ITS FINISHED!!!

 

Took 13 hours in total!!! I got timing belt done, tensioners etc etc and the water pump and new coolant,

 

However I off the new rocker head gasket I was left with a load of rubber washers!! I'm guessing they should have been under the bolts??

 

I didn't realise as the existing one didnt have any on!!!

 

This should still seal ok tho surely?? quite a good bit of compression on the gasket.

 

 

Back to the tensioner on the timing belt I just used an allen key to push the tensioner as far back as possible to get a good tension on the belt and bolted up, is this ok?

 

 

I also managed to get the spring in and new belt on without even having to slacken the cam sprockets etc!!! Was that mandatory they needed to be slackened off?

 

 

HOPEFULLY ITS A JOB WELL DONE!!!

 

THANKS ALL

 

[SteveB]

Back to the tensioner on the timing belt I just used an allen key to push the tensioner as far back as possible to get a good tension on the belt and bolted up, is this ok?

 

 

I also managed to get the spring in and new belt on without even having to slacken the cam sprockets etc!!! Was that mandatory they needed to be slackened off?

 

 

HOPEFULLY ITS A JOB WELL DONE!!!

 

THANKS ALL

 

 

The belt should be tightened by the spring - you shouldn't apply extra tension yourself. What I did was push the tensioner hard against the belt by hand then let it relax then nip the bolt. If you over tension the belt you will shorten it's life and the tensioner as well.

 

Did you give the engine a couple of turns and check tha the camshafts lined up at tdc? If they don't then you need to loosen the cams and reset the timing.

[escort4x4]

just to state somethin as i ave had the 2ltr engine down to the 1.6, and they have all been on a 95 so is the silver top, i have locked off the crank with a locking pin which bolts in the block, plus being a mechanic meself ive done plenty timing belts, and ive always locked off the cranks. mystery there lol

[SORTED-ESCORT]

 

The belt should be tightened by the spring - you shouldn't apply extra tension yourself. What I did was push the tensioner hard against the belt by hand then let it relax then nip the bolt. If you over tension the belt you will shorten it's life and the tensioner as well.

 

Did you give the engine a couple of turns and check tha the camshafts lined up at tdc? If they don't then you need to loosen the cams and reset the timing.

 

Yeah, I did turn it over by hand and both cams lined up exactly the same again, TBH i wouldn't have thought they would move after being locked in anyway???