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Rover 416 Cam Belt

Had the rocker cover off my 91 Rover 416 today (single cam 16v, honda engine) so took the chance to look at the cam belt.

The cam belt has done 49k miles and is 3 years old, I had it done when I bought the car with the intention of leaving it on until it pinged and lead to me scrapping the car or until the car needed scrapping for some other reason - whichever came first.

I saw no reason to change that plan, assuming the belt would have acouple of years left in it.

However on inspection I found a 2mm long 'crack' (crack is too strong a word - it's perished a fraction) and the 'outside' (untoothed) of the belt.

Have I got to change the belt right now, or can it wait till spring? (Prolly 4k miles) Has it got a fighting chance of seeing another 20k miles?

I don't want to do the job if I can possibly get away with it, happy to take a 50/50 risk. OTOH if it is really *very* likely to fail very soon I think I'll do it 'cos despie it's s**te shed status I like the car and I don't really want to scrap it right now.

X Posted to UKRM 'cos they seem to know their stuff.

Reply to
toad_oftoadhall
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Do a belt replacement now, don't risk it for a few quid and a couple of hours work. It's not like a new belt costs a fortune and it's easily done by a semi-competent spaner-wielder.

Reply to
Lozzo

My old Volvo did 200,000 miles on one cam belt, but it's a non interference motor so I wasn't bothered. With your Rover, it's a case of "do you feel lucky, punk?"

-- Stuart

Reply to
Stuart Gray

Change it now. Don't pause to think about it.

Therein lies demons.

Cheers,

Paul.

Reply to
zymurgy

Semi-raises hand.

But have you seen the clearance to get to the belt on the 2.5V6 Mazda lump in an MX6. It is a bloody joke.

Another one for the tuit list.

Paul.

Reply to
zymurgy

Oooo.. go on, don't change it so some smart arse can say "told you so".

Reply to
Muck

Pah! That's nothing. Try a Fiat 5-pot.

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Reply to
SteveH

Or a Renault 21 Turbo... teehee...

First, remove the front end of the car.

Reply to
Muck

Or a Fiat Coupe. First, remove the engine.

Reply to
Lozzo

Stuart, would be interested as to what model Volvo you had. I have a 740 with the B230k engine and changed the cambelt about 50k/8years ago so was contemplating changing it again this summer on age grounds. If however it is non-interference I would wait a bit longer, hence my interest in your post.

sorry to butt in on the thread

Reply to
Steptoe

Ahh... got me there.

Although I will say, that I think I'll go mad if I have to ever remove a Renault 21 Turbo radiator _again_... mutter mutter...

Reply to
Muck

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, toad snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.co.uk typed

This crack, across or along the belt?

Reply to
Wicked Uncle Nigel

The message from snipped-for-privacy@italiancar.co.uk (SteveH) contains these words:

Oh, that's just silly.

I've got to go my inline 5-cyl Audi in the summer.

Remove grille, swing radiator out of the way - enjoy the impression of a Canada advert - all wide open spaces.

Reply to
Guy King

This:

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is the engine bay of a Citröen SM. The timing chain is at the back of the engine, right up against the bulkhead, and you have to take the engine out to get at it.

Reply to
platypus

Across.- and that's a pretty Intelligent question to ask...

I kind of assume the is no strength in the rubbery layer that is cracked and that the strength is in some kind of canvas core to the belt.

Now I've slept on it I'm pretty much decided to get it done by a third party. Peace of mind for three tanks of fuel. Of course on a car of this errr, age and standard there's always the risk it has to be scrapped in two weeks time for something else entirely and the cash will be wasted.

Reply to
toad_oftoadhall

Designed by Soichiro, then.

Reply to
The Older Gentleman

Yebbut that's a regular thing to do on any Fiat, innit?

Reply to
The Older Gentleman

No, the *regular* thing used to be "sweep up the bodywork"...

Reply to
Timo Geusch

The message from "platypus" contains these words:

But how long do the chains last compared to belts?

Reply to
Guy King

Most current Fords have cambelt change intervals of 100,000 miles.Does anything on a Citroen last that long :-)

Chris

Reply to
Chris Whelan

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