Ferrari 360 cam gears locking tool

In the WSMs, they use vice-grips. Crude but effective.

 

I can confirm this as I’m doing it to my car right now.

 

Why? How is it "better"? You lock the gears in place so they don't move, then you throw a new belt on it.

If vice grips do this for free, why is another tool needed?

 

Using vise grips is foolish as you side load the pulleys. I could probably clean my teeth instead of going to a dentist but that would be equally foolish. I'm sending Mario a set of our 355 locks. I know the clamp doesn't fit a 360 but I think he will modify or make something. He's a great guy and good customer so happy to help him.

 

LOL. Like selling ice cream to Eskimos.

Factory Bulletin #303: Ferrari has determined that Dave Rocks knows better than we do. Please stop using vice grips for belt changes and immediately go out and buy his tool (which isn't designed to fit a 360 BTW).

Ferrari Letter to VRSurgeon: "VRSurgeon, we regret that after 64,000 miles and at nearly 20 years of age, with approximately 4 or 5 belt changes to the cars history.. your car SHOULD have had an oil leak or other problem as a rest of vice grips being used to replace the belts. Please go out and hit the pulley with a #4 hammer to inflict damage that should be there as a result of using vice grips. "

Here's the kicker.. if there is a failure in any way of the belt, the first thing that is asked is "Did you follow the WSM?"

 

vrsurgeon, well said. Ferrari engineering is generally well done, in my experience. I have a couple of friends that are well respected pro techs. They all use the factory procedure. Key is pressure used. Very little locks the pulleys.

 

First of all, Mario asked me if the tool will work on a 360 - I said no as I had a tech try it for me in the past. But, IIRC, it was the rear clamp that was the issue and given Mario could not find anything else, he still wanted a set, which given he is a good customer, I sent them to him at no cost.

Second, If you think I designed and built these cam locks for profit, you are very miss informed.

And, you guys are priceless - I guarantee I could find a bunch of posts where you bash Ferrari's engineering but you sure like to quote it when it fits your narrative

I could explain the purpose and benefits of the tool but it's not worth my time. I'll also add the same people will argue one second to not lock and swap the belts (which is exaqctley what Ferrari states to do in the WSM) and that one must degree wheel time every belt change, then the very next second cam locks are not needed, use vise grips like the WSM.

You just can't make this stuff up.

Oh, John - why don't you give a call to Tony Fernandes, the guy who last serviced your car, ask him about our tools as he bought a set

 

Thank you Mario, it was a pleasure to serve you.

 

About using vice grips and side loading. A paint can opener can be ground down and shaped to fit precisely as a "key" between the cams which eliminates the side loading on the cams when clamped. As mentioned above, very little clamping force is needed to lock the cams.

 

Note I only said that is what the WSM says, not that it was the smart way to do it. As mentioned, the idea with the vice grips is to use the minimum pressure necessary, and not try to make the cogs touch.

 

Dave, good to hear Tony bought several of your tools. The quality appears to be excellent.
Regarding the 360 cams. Ferrari engineering on the Motors they build has been very good in my experience. A bit lacking in other areas. The 360 will tolerate lock and swap because the cam timing can be verified with an SD machine prior to and after the belt is installed, unlike earlier V8 models.
Properly used, as a factory trained tech would carry forward per the factory WI and OPs as documented, there is little chance of damage.
As noted by tazandjan, locking the vice grips too hard would be an expensive mistake!

 

Then your just spreading rumors

Just kidding.

Can't we all just play nice and get along? I personally wanted to put a block of some sort in to locking the cams but I ended up using a pair of vice grips.
It's really no different than the argument guns don't kill people. Well guess what? Vise grips don't wreck everything they touch either!
If your not capable of using vise grips correctly, you shouldn't be messing around with timing belts. But that is my Opinion! YMMV.

 

My DIY lock for the 308. Will probably use it on the 360 next yr.
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Perfect!

 

Better than vise grips

 

Ive used vise grips on my 360 several times. No issue. The same goes for other cars.

Making a cam locking tool for the 360 is like inventing a solution to a problem that did not exist in the first place.

 

Rumor has it that using a vise grip can possibly attribute to the demise of the timing variators. Over-zealous use perhaps? Maybe. Each to his own.

 

Hey Dave, I may be interested in purchasing a set of your cam lock tools (for the 355). I will use them on my 360 Challenge, which I am about to do a cam belt change on, and if your other customer could make good use of them, then I am sure I can as well with a little ingenuity - I cringe with the thought of using vise grips on the car, any car for that matter, Ferrari recommended or not.