Question on rotating the motor with very old cam belts. | FerrariChat
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Question on rotating the motor with very old cam belts.

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by christopher, Mar 29, 2008.

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  1. christopher

    christopher Formula 3

    Nov 29, 2003
    1,136
    Ontario California
    Full Name:
    Christopher
    #1 christopher, Mar 29, 2008
    Hey Fellow “F” Chatters,

    It’s me again. My question is, could I possibly do any damage rotating my engine over with the old cam belts in place. The reason is, is that I need to get the motor to “Top Dead Center.” Should the belts break due to manually rotating the motor slowing, will I do any damage to the motor?

    Thanks Guys,

    Chris.
     
  2. vincenzo

    vincenzo F1 Rookie

    Nov 2, 2003
    3,373
    #2 vincenzo, Mar 29, 2008
    highly, highly doubtful.

    if you pull the plugs I'd say it was essentially impossible - unless of course some rubber solvent (gasoline / oil etc) had soaked the belts for a very long time or a cam is seized. Essentially impossible.

    I wish there was an easy way to turn the TR engine over by hand. It would be great to do this every other week during storage.

    YMMV

    Rgds,
    Vince
     
  3. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,022
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    #3 Verell, Mar 29, 2008
    I'd do it to my car w/o hesitation.

    I agree, w/vincenzo, it will be a lot easier & more controllable with the plugs out. While plugs in/out won't affect the forces on the belts, it greatly reduces the force youll be applying to turn the motor over, hence you'll have a lot more control.

    It's highly unlikely that the belt would let loose. Even if it did, at the instant the belt broke, all valves would be fairly far away from pistons, so you'd have a quite a few crank rotation degrees of safety to detect the break & stop turning.
     
  4. christopher

    christopher Formula 3

    Nov 29, 2003
    1,136
    Ontario California
    Full Name:
    Christopher
    #4 christopher, Mar 29, 2008
    I am very greatlful,

    Thank you guys, if it weren't for this site, I'd be lost.


    Thanks Guys,

    Chris.
     
  5. Artvonne

    Artvonne F1 Veteran

    Oct 29, 2004
    5,379
    NWA
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #5 Artvonne, Mar 30, 2008
    While re-tensioning the belt tensioner is generally forbidden, if your only planning to turn the engine manually and not run it, re-tensioning them to prevent slip/tearing wont hurt anything. And, if you remove the cams entirely, you can spin the engine to your hearts content with no worries at all of harming anything. Plugs removed of course. And I fully agree with the marvel oil in the cylinders.
     

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