Timing belt misalignment

[pluktv]

Hello again everyone.

Yikes!! Just happened to notice this yesterday. If you check out the pics you can see where the timing belt is rubbing against the front of the engine block. I had no idea that it was doing this, the engine was `rebuilt` by the previous owner, so it has been like this for certainly the 3000km that I have covered so far.

To me it looks like the intake cam sprocket is too far in? I`m guessing that there could be a spacer missing from the sprocket or something? Help, anyone?...

Phil

[So Cal Mark]

one common problem is the tensioner bearing may not be seated properly, no spacers are used on the sprockets

[manoa matt]

Most the carbed engines had an aux shaft pully with the guard on the front. The intake then would have a guard on the back and the exhaust would have a guard on the front.

The FI engines used cam pullys with no guards, and in that case the aux shaft pully MUST have a guard on the rear.

Much of the misalignment or "wandering" of the timing belt is due to how the pulleys are seated on the various cam or auxillary shafts. The end of the shaft and the pully hole must be absolutly perfectly clean. If there is a bit of corrosion or dirt in there when assembled the pully will be at an angle and make the belt wander back and forth or push it to one side.

I would try Mark's suggestion first as it's the easiest thing to do. I have some tiny C-clamps that I use to clamp the belt to the intake, exhaust, and aux pullys so I can slip the belt off the tensioner without messing up the timing.

[vandor]

Looks like it is rubbing against the head. I assume this is a 2L carbed engine, where that part of the head is ~1/2" farther forward as the EGR passage runs there.
I would check to see where the belt runs on the auxiliary pulley, maybe if one with a rear guard was used it would keep the belt from going that far back.

[pluktv]

Thanks Guys

From what I can gather then, it looks like the problem lies with the tensioner pulley. I`ll poke around with it tomorrow if I can get home early enough. Is it possible to leave the belt in situ and remove the tensioner pulley?

[pluktv]

Ok

Removed tensioner bearing assembly, cleaned everything up, even removed all crud from pullies. Reassembled, started it up just fine.

Just the same.

The only thing that I can see doesn`t look right is the way the tensioner bearing sits on it`s spindle. With not having any experience with other Spiders I have no experience to draw on. The bearing centre hole is bigger than the spindle it sits on, and it is held in place by a flanged washer, another washer, lock washer and nut. The flanged washer is what is holding it in place, but I did expect to see the bearing snug on it`s spindle. If I didn`t know better (and I don`t) is that it looks like it should be sleeved?

Hope I`ve explained this properly, Does anyone know what I mean, even better, have an exploded diagram of said tensioner...

Cheers.

[pluktv]

Actually, a picture tells a thousand words>>>

[maytag]

it fits loosely like that to allow the bearing to move, so as to toghten when the belt stretches. (early cars used a specified weight-value, newer cars use a spring-tension)

[pluktv]

Oohhhh...

Not the answer I was hoping for.

However, on closer inspection of the aux pully, it looks to be made of plastic, I thought they were all metal, and I`m not sure it looks to be quite central. Find attached pics, as the wheel itself is worn looking on one side.
Would this have a bearing (Ouch) on anything?
Anyone seen this before?
Little bit of a loss with this one. It`s times like this I wish had access to a ton of old parts to compare...

Cheers
Phil

[GTO]

Looking at the second picture from the top it looks to me as though you have two different cam pulleys fitted. The exhaust cam pulley does not have a guide whilst the inlet cam pulley does .And as pointed out in an earlier post you should have one on each of the pulleys to stop the belt rolling off towards the engine. I think you need to get another pulley with the guide and fit it the opposite way around to the inlet one,so the two guide end pieces keep the belt running true.

[azruss]

your guides are located on the aux and intake pulleys. It has been my experience that the pastic pulleys develop wear and grooves over the time that force the belt to follow that path. may want to shop for a new exhaust pulley and see if that helps. also check for play in the pulley tensioner bearing. if it is sloppy, that could cause an issue. I've never seen a belt run centered but you definitely have an issue. shop for an early model pulley with the back guide

[pluktv]

Couldn`t fathom this one out so I ended up taking it to Joseph at European auto in Bedford. As it happens it was the aux pulley, the way it was worn. A `new` second hand one has been fitted, with a guard on the backside. Belt now runs completely central on the pulleys. Blasted it up to 140 on the highway on the way back, just to make sure it was ok of course...

Don`t know how much He`s gonna charge me yet, but it`s better for me than trying to find used stuff on ebay or whatever and wasting half the summer. He still has quite a few old parts left in for these.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Phil

[Exit98]

Holy Cow! 140!

Oh wait, you mean in those kilometer things.

Damn, I wish you Northerners would speak English.

Still, 87 MPH ain't chicken feed.

I've never had the pleasure of driving up your way though I've planned the trip a couple times. My B of L travels up by you and PEI and Labrador too, big fly fisherman. He says your road are great fun but that you've got to slow wayyy down at night since the moose aren't known to look both ways before crossing.

[pluktv]

Yeah, 140mph would be pretty cool eh?
To me the spider and Nova Scotia `B` roads go hand in hand, the exhilaration of scooting a small open top vintage sports car along ocean road twisties at around 80 to 100kph takes some beating... It really does.
If any of you guys ever get the chance to come up here I can heartily recommend it.

Haven`t seen many moose, but I`ve woken up with a few...

Phil

[RRoller123]

Up in Newfoundland we were strongly warned by everyone we met, government and citizen, NOT to drive at all at night out on the highway. After seeing the result of a nightime moose and truck collision one following morning, I can see why. It was not pretty! But that landscape, wow! Can't wait to go back.