Easy cam belt change ?

1. noobie Newbie Joined: May 2015 Posts: 9

   #1 14th May 2015, 22:47

   I was watching car sos recently and they were working on a Nissan gtr and they had to do a cambelt change but the way they did it surprised me.
   
   To change the cambelt they simply ran a Stanley knife 3/4's of the width across then cut the whole length along whilst hand cranking the engine so they were able to remove about 3/4 of the width of the old belt leaving 1/4 in place.
   
   Then they slipped the new belt on as far as it would go over all the pulleys, then cut what was left of the old belt away and finished sliding the new belt on. No need to worry about timing marks or special tools.
2. Ali123 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: May 2011 huddersfield Posts: 2635 ph3'd c2 gt

   #2 14th May 2015, 23:08

   i can imagine getting the new belt round the tensioner being a struggle?
3. noobie Newbie Joined: May 2015 Posts: 9

   #3 15th May 2015, 08:37

   Most have a tensioner somewhere so this needs to be backed off but as it is not toothed it is not a critical component to getting everything on the right place.
   
   Most tensioners are simply a matter of putting a ring spanner on the pulley bolt and easing against the spring tension to give enough room to get the new belt on
4. Ali123 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: May 2011 huddersfield Posts: 2635 ph3'd c2 gt

   #4 15th May 2015, 08:45

   I know how a tensioner works haha , some belts are a pain in the arse as it is to get onto the cam pullies etc so just in my mind without touching the tensioner getting the belt over everything would be a pain in the arse
5. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #5 15th May 2015, 08:53

   Seen it done on an MG rover forum - looks like the ultimate bodge work to be honest, probably possible but I wouldnt attempt it. Once the tensioner is backed off how does the old belt stay on the pulleys without popping off?
6. Ali123 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: May 2011 huddersfield Posts: 2635 ph3'd c2 gt

   #6 15th May 2015, 09:06

   I'm under the assumption from the first post you don't back off the tensioner?
7. Bedford126 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2010 Morley, Leeds Posts: 8469 Civic ep3 type r powered by TDI NORTH

   #7 15th May 2015, 09:44

   This is as old as time, works great until the belt gives in and slips and you have no timing marks, much easier to do it the proper way
8. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #8 15th May 2015, 10:42

   exactly, too much possibility for the cam pulleys to slip so you may as well lock the pulleys and having done that you could have done it properly.
9. Cam Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Nov 2010 Kent Posts: 8439 Gen 7 Celica 190.

   #9 16th May 2015, 13:51

   Wish It was that easy on my car, mid-engine cambelt change is a PIG.