Belt change help | FerrariChat

Belt change help

Discussion in 'Mondial' started by decardona, May 26, 2020.

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  1. decardona

    decardona Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2005
    1,019
    PA
    Full Name:
    Dennis Cardona
    Over this past weekend I decided to do a belt change in my 3.2. Have done it before so wasn't expecting any real issues. Got the job going doing all the steps, set at TDC, lock cams, mark old belts and cam. So the front belt comes out pretty easily after taking off the tensioner bearing. But for the life of me I can not get the new belt on. Lined up marks, couldn't get it on. Tried locking down the tensioner spring bracket, could not get it on. I've done this before and don't remember it being so difficult. Did I miss something or am I overlooking a step. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
     
  2. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
    5,828
    Isle of man- uk
    Check you have the right new belts, i was supplied shorter belts from different model once.
    Been a while since i have done one but you dont need to remove the tensioner pulley, just move and lock out of the way
     
  3. conan

    conan Formula Junior

    Nov 13, 2011
    389
    Hi, given that the belt is indeed correct, you need to push the tensioner all the way in and lock it. Slide on the belt on the pulleys with fences and use a socket wrench to tighten the slack a bit on the cams. Then you should be able to slide on the final pulley by carefully aligning the teeth using the socket wrench. Of course, it might be scary to release the cams, but with proper markings, it should be ok.

    Personally, I prefer to do the job at another angle than at tdc, but most people here on the forum say that the valves will not hit the pistons or there will not be any damage if the valves rest on a piston. This could potentially happen if the cam moves by the valve spring forces. If you are not prepared for it, the cam moves really quickly to the resting position a few degrees forward or backward.
     
  4. decardona

    decardona Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2005
    1,019
    PA
    Full Name:
    Dennis Cardona
    Thanks for the input. Will try again over the weekend and update after.
     
  5. MvT

    MvT F1 Rookie

    May 25, 2013
    4,248
    The Netherlands - NH
    Full Name:
    Tijn
    Also check the size of the tensioner bearing by comparing it with the old one :)
     
  6. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    25,038
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    You need to compress the tensioner assembly as much as possible and then loosen the three nuts holding the tensioner assembly to the engine block -- this gives more slack in the belt path by allowing the tensioner pulley to "tip over" a little.
     
  7. decardona

    decardona Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2005
    1,019
    PA
    Full Name:
    Dennis Cardona
    Thanks again. I will give it another go this weekend and provide an update. Thanks again.
     
  8. conan

    conan Formula Junior

    Nov 13, 2011
    389
    Just to give an idea of the clearance I have when sliding on the belt. With the tensioner (Hill eng) fully compressed, I need to take out the slack in the belt from crank to intake cam first, then there is only about half a millimeter between the exhaust cam and the belt, but it is enough to align the teeth and slide the belt on. It is not at all hard to do and it requires very little force. The trick is to take out the slack and align the teeth.
     
  9. martinperry

    martinperry Karting

    Jun 4, 2008
    127
    Sawbridgeworth, UK
    Full Name:
    Martin Perry


    About 11 minutes in.

    A clever and pretty foolproof method in my experience
     

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