Timing belt tensioner bearings by Hill Engineering | FerrariChat

Timing belt tensioner bearings by Hill Engineering

Discussion in 'Mondial' started by AUDIO RESEARCH, Oct 18, 2017.

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  1. AUDIO RESEARCH

    AUDIO RESEARCH Formula Junior

    Feb 11, 2009
    350
    PHILIPPINES
    Full Name:
    LUIGI RAYMUND LIRA
    Hi ,

    My mechanic recently performed a timing belt service . I replaced the factory Tensioner Bearings w/ Hill Engineering Bearings. According to members of Ferrarichat , its finest bearing tensioner available and much better than the standard SKF supplied bearing from Ferrari . My question is it mandatory to replace a Hill Eng. bearing everytime the timing belt is replaced. In one forum they said it should be replaced every other timing belt change . So whats the consensus regarding this matter.

    Thanks in advance,

    Luigi
     
  2. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
    5,828
    Isle of man- uk
    I changed mine once in 20 years-the ferrari one is fine. Every 2nd belt change is overkill
     
  3. srephwed

    srephwed F1 Veteran
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    Apr 29, 2012
    6,450
    street,md
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    fred brown
    Every other belt change for me. Cheap insurance.
     
  4. davem

    davem F1 Veteran
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    Jan 21, 2002
    8,210
    Stepford, Connecticut
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    dave m
    My guess is no depending on miles. Realistically only a few of us would ever do a 30k because we actually put that many miles on a car. A tensioner bearing on a Honda or pick any other car is good for 7 years and 90k miles. How many people change those in time?
    Many mechanics who do belt services on mere ordinary cars fail to change the bearings at all! Some will charge extra if you insist.
    My trusty but boring Volvo 850 wagon was tormenting me with its unwavering reliability. Loved it for how reliable it was, but was also so bored with it. It was consuming oil though. So why do a belt job? I'm driving this car into the ground anyways.
    Technically it needed a valve job anyways, most likely if the belt failed that's all that would be damaged anyhow. That damn thing went to 165k before i could no longer stand it. Gave it to a friend who fell on hard times still running fine but going thru some oil.
    Always say ill drive them into the ground, but had to scratch that itch and try something new!
     
  5. alexion

    alexion Formula 3
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    May 20, 2013
    1,303
    New York
    Tensioner bearings are so inexpensive relative to the cost of blowing up a motor which is why they are replaced. Like Remo said in Casino, "Why take a chance?"
     
  6. davem

    davem F1 Veteran
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    Jan 21, 2002
    8,210
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    dave m
    Good point.
    My counter would be and this applies to many electro/ mechanical parts. Most of these parts fail when new or very old.

    So could be delivered defective. Now one might say " yes but a quick spin to see that all is well"
    But have seen bearings fine in that regard then fail under load.
    Food for thought.
    If you have bearings 3 to 5 years old of a known high quality ( Hill Engineering) that have no obvious signs of leak, damage and it's been the typical 2 to 5k in miles since new well....
     
  7. AUDIO RESEARCH

    AUDIO RESEARCH Formula Junior

    Feb 11, 2009
    350
    PHILIPPINES
    Full Name:
    LUIGI RAYMUND LIRA
    Thanks guys for your replies . In my car the last time the belt tensioner was replaced was 10 years ago . We check out the old bearing and according to my mechanic , even that if the bearing looks ok might as well replace it as a precaution . Accdg. to some forums the quality of the new SKF bearing are in question & are made in China .
     
  8. moysiuan

    moysiuan F1 Rookie
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    Nov 1, 2005
    3,628
    Canada
    Too bad SKF is ruining its reputation, used to be among the best bearing companies in the world. Hill bearings should be good for two or three belt changes, other bearings like the water pump idler are more likely to fail and often overlooked.
     
  9. afterburner

    afterburner F1 Rookie
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    Jun 20, 2008
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  10. Pero

    Pero Formula Junior
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    Apr 22, 2011
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    Peter R
    Some non-important information. SKF, Swedish Ball-bearing Company, is 110 years old and today situated in 100 countries. I do not know where the production plants are but I doubt that it should matter in which country they are made. Quality assurance should guarantee same quality regardless of country. If I remeber my industrial history correct, they started Volvo!
    Peter
     
  11. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
    5,828
    Isle of man- uk
    You can be sure that hill engineering are not making the bearing but just buying them in, probably from SKF anyway.
     
  12. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
    5,828
    Isle of man- uk
    SKF are still some of the best bearings around, i have fitted many thousands over my working life
     
  13. davem

    davem F1 Veteran
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    Jan 21, 2002
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    dave m
    Agreed they are. The issue is SKF has had problems with shady copycats using inferior bearings labeled as SKF and counterfeiting even the boxes.
     
  14. afterburner

    afterburner F1 Rookie
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    Jun 20, 2008
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  15. AUDIO RESEARCH

    AUDIO RESEARCH Formula Junior

    Feb 11, 2009
    350
    PHILIPPINES
    Full Name:
    LUIGI RAYMUND LIRA
    Thats an expensive lesson Afterburner, prior to purchasing the Hill Engineering tensioner bearings , I was thinking of sourcing SKF bearings here in the Philippines , because SKF bearings because they have importers/ distributor in our country . But due to my busy schedule I ordered the Hill Bearings on line. Who knows If Ive source it locally most probably it would be a knock off.
     
  16. AUDIO RESEARCH

    AUDIO RESEARCH Formula Junior

    Feb 11, 2009
    350
    PHILIPPINES
    Full Name:
    LUIGI RAYMUND LIRA
    Thats an expensive lesson Afterburner, prior to purchasing the Hill Engineering tensioner bearings , I was thinking of sourcing SKF bearings here in the Philippines , because SKF bearings because they have importers/ distributor in our country . But due to my busy schedule I ordered the Hill Bearings on line. Who knows If Ive source it locally most probably it would be a knock off.
     
  17. afterburner

    afterburner F1 Rookie
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    Jun 20, 2008
    3,197
    Hong Kong
    Audioresearch yes it was rather expensive, and only after 15'000km.
    I bought the bearings from a reputable distributor in the UK...
    Obviously, SKF isn't totally in control of their supply chain.
    And I didn't notice. Always checking now. The replacement bearing from SKF lasted 85'000km.
    That seems more reasonable.
     
  18. srephwed

    srephwed F1 Veteran
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    Apr 29, 2012
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    fred brown
    I can't tell from your pictures but can these bearings be replaced without removing the front cover? I have to do belts and tensioners this winter and thought maybe I should replace these also. My engine is at about 35k
     
  19. afterburner

    afterburner F1 Rookie
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    Jun 20, 2008
    3,197
    Hong Kong
    Yes, you can replace the front bearings using the following puller:

    Image Unavailable, Please Login

    The rear bearings in the engine block can only be replaced by removing the front cover but they seem less critical as they are in a permanent oil bath.
     

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