All,
I installed a new timing belt yesterday on my '90 240DL. Not too complicated. I was glad I bought that special tool to hold the crankshaft pulley. Slight problem on re-assembly.
The Haynes manual is a bit out of sequence on re-assembly. They instruct to torque up the belt tensioner before installing/torquing the crankshaft pulley. Problem with that is you have to have the tensioner nut off to install that crank-holding tool to tighten the crank pulley bolt.
The next problem was my fault, I failed to re-tighten the tensioner bolt. So, after startup, with the tensioner pulley misaligned (not tightened down), the timing belt rode half off the camshaft pulley, burning a neat slice through the timing belt cover in just a few seconds. I shut it down before it rode completely off the camshaft and intermediate (BTW, what the hell does this intermediate shaft do? Just hold a pulley?)shaft pulleys.
So, I'll need a new timing belt cover. Duct tape won't last forever.
How about that belt, though? Does anyone think I damaged it when it ran half-off the pulleys?
By the way, I didn't bother with the oil seals. THey weren't leaking and looked pristine. Also, I didn't want to spend the price for the two seal drivers and the pulley holder to do that job. Also, I left the water pump alone. It wasn't leaking either. I know some things are better replaced before they fail. Any comments on my choice not to fool with those components?