Interesting technique. My only concern would be the mess created from cutting the belt with an angle grinder. I wonder if there'd be a less messy way of cutting the belt? I've experienced drive belts on motorcycles (think of chain & sprocket substitutes) that have split because of a rock that got wedged somewhere that it basically split the belt in a similar fashion.
Hello, Dustin, There's surprisingly little 'mess', (the blade is only 1 mm thick), and what there is could be addressed if desired by running a vacuum cleaner with nozzle beside the belt which would suck most if not all of it away. It's just harmless black dust which I blew away afterwards with an air line. Tried a Stanley knife and a jigsaw prior to the angle grinder, on a scrap belt, but no good at all.
So what do you have to hook up to to turn the timing like you did. Also this doesn't account for other maintenance you may have to do such as the cam seal the oil pump seal or the water pump. But if all you need to do is the timing belt that's pretty slick
Love learning new techniques everyday! But why not just mark the belt tooth on the sprockets, remove, transfer markings to new belt and reattach while aligning the markings?
That could indeed be done, G.Cast, although with the risk that the cam pulley(s) could 'kick' out of place when released, but I just thought I'd try out this method which worked well.
Mabe use a stanley knife to cut the belt not an angle grinder just to avoid accidentaly cutting the cam sproket any tiny nics or burs will prematurley wear a cambelt
It would be a helluva job, Adam, trying to cut through a belt lengthwise with a stanley knife, not to mention the risk of slipping and injury. With care the angle grinder won't nick the cam pulley. The choice is yours....
@@confabrication thanks, will this work on interference engines? Did you change the tensioner? Did the belt prematurely fail following this? Thanks again
I don't see any problem whether the engine is interference or not - my Citroen Berlingo is interference. No, I didn't change the tensioner and NO , the belt did not fail (why would it ?) and it's giving the expected good service.
In the main dealers, they use a Stanley knife to cut the belt as it's running, holding the knife until the belt is in two then remove the outer bit refit the new done in half the time maIN DEALERS FORD Citroën PEUGEOT FIAT IVECO ETC
That's interesting, John. I contemplated doing that at the time but bottled out as I was uncertain how it would go and just manually rotated the engine and used the grinder instead. I'll definitely try the knife method next time.
@@confabrication has cutt of the timing belt without splitting in 2 parts . To put new one are enough belt kit toos for my car or need to open the engine head but don't know how to put valves and camshaft together in synchro
This is similar to the "russian style". Start the engine with the cover off. Use a blade to cut the belt. If nervous, get a mate to hold the blade and don't stand in the firing line. Oh, and be quick as you will likely have no cooling.
That's because this is a do-it-yourself person. Obviously a shop can't take that kind of risk. There's a lot of ways that you can do it that will work but a shop is simply not allowed to do.
@@confabrication it’s hard to tell really. It might look good now but I’m 3 years time ? If the pump starts leaking you’ve got to do the job again and pumps are cheap. I’m not knocking the idea it seems to make sense but I always change the pump. If that pump siezed up it will strip the belt and wreck the engine.
🤣 this is obviously a do-it-yourself. There are many cars out there that paying someone to do it professionally cost more than what the car is currently worth. This is obviously not a place for you. He did give his disclaimer before he even started the video
@@pyrojunkie88 probably because people are afraid of messing it up. I held back on trying for a long time wish I hadn't. Besides the money you save it's a great feeling to be able to do it yourself
How would it cause interference? Timing is maintained, and this is likely a non interference engine to begin with. Way to show what you know about when you open your mouth.
The water pump was fine (and still is !) so why needlessly replace a perfectly functioning item. The "whole idea" was merely to show an alternative method to replacing the belt. And nowhere did I claim to be a mechanic....
@@confabrication pay no attention to the haters some of us who are limited with our knowledge that appreciate this video. Besides not all water pumps are driven by the timing belt.
@@JoseDiaz-rd9fh Thanks, Jose, for comments. As you say there's no point in replying to the nay-sayers who probably in most cases have little hands-on knowledge and are merely armchair critics. I did this experiment at the time to see if it was feasible and it was. And, incidentally, the water pump that I was criticized for not replacing at the time is still going strong over 3 years later !
@@confabrication is it possible to simply lock the gears in place? With some kind of special tool that should allow you to just swap the belt out the same way no? I have a 2000 Hyundai accent and I don't believe that I have the timing belt access the same way you displayed on that car. It's more of a vertical setup not really much horizontal to it
Interesting idea. This would help first timers get it back together correctly without any worry of it losing timing.
Interesting technique. My only concern would be the mess created from cutting the belt with an angle grinder. I wonder if there'd be a less messy way of cutting the belt? I've experienced drive belts on motorcycles (think of chain & sprocket substitutes) that have split because of a rock that got wedged somewhere that it basically split the belt in a similar fashion.
Hello, Dustin, There's surprisingly little 'mess', (the blade is only 1 mm thick), and what there is could be addressed if desired by running a vacuum cleaner with nozzle beside the belt which would suck most if not all of it away. It's just harmless black dust which I blew away afterwards with an air line. Tried a Stanley knife and a jigsaw prior to the angle grinder, on a scrap belt, but no good at all.
Absolutely love this!! This is how they do it at the main dealers.
Are you sure
Hahaha
So what do you have to hook up to to turn the timing like you did. Also this doesn't account for other maintenance you may have to do such as the cam seal the oil pump seal or the water pump. But if all you need to do is the timing belt that's pretty slick
I put the car in gear with the wheel off the ground and turned it as I went along. Nothing else needed replacing at the time (and hasn't since).
Love learning new techniques everyday! But why not just mark the belt tooth on the sprockets, remove, transfer markings to new belt and reattach while aligning the markings?
That could indeed be done, G.Cast, although with the risk that the cam pulley(s) could 'kick' out of place when released, but I just thought I'd try out this method which worked well.
Mabe use a stanley knife to cut the belt not an angle grinder just to avoid accidentaly cutting the cam sproket any tiny nics or burs will prematurley wear a cambelt
It would be a helluva job, Adam, trying to cut through a belt lengthwise with a stanley knife, not to mention the risk of slipping and injury. With care the angle grinder won't nick the cam pulley. The choice is yours....
Ive done this job and I found a dimmel worked with a cutting disc on just perfectly.
What car did you do this on? I have a ford focus needing a belt and it kinda looks like a focus in this video but cant be certain
It was a Citroen Berlingo, but I can't see any reason why the same method could not be used for any timing belt
@@confabrication thanks, will this work on interference engines? Did you change the tensioner? Did the belt prematurely fail following this?
Thanks again
I don't see any problem whether the engine is interference or not - my Citroen Berlingo is interference. No, I didn't change the tensioner and NO , the belt did not fail (why would it ?) and it's giving the expected good service.
@@confabrication many thanks, I'm breathing a sigh of relief now lol
In the main dealers, they use a Stanley knife to cut the belt as it's running, holding the knife until the belt is in two then remove the outer bit refit the new done in half the time maIN DEALERS FORD Citroën PEUGEOT FIAT IVECO ETC
That's interesting, John. I contemplated doing that at the time but bottled out as I was uncertain how it would go and just manually rotated the engine and used the grinder instead. I'll definitely try the knife method next time.
@@confabrication got to have strong grip
excellent! thanks for sharing brian! regards. peter
My opel v6 does not have have flexible tensioners.
If been cut off all . No signs . How can put it
Sorry, I don't understand
@@confabrication has cutt of the timing belt without splitting in 2 parts . To put new one are enough belt kit toos for my car or need to open the engine head but don't know how to put valves and camshaft together in synchro
@@fierakuitali9313 Sorry, Fieraku, I cannot help you - you would need to get a Haynes Manual for the particular car you are working on.
@@confabrication thank you
That's very clever..!!!
This is similar to the "russian style".
Start the engine with the cover off.
Use a blade to cut the belt.
If nervous, get a mate to hold the blade and don't stand in the firing line.
Oh, and be quick as you will likely have no cooling.
Holy shit with angle grinder... i wouldn't give you my car to repair anything on it.
That's because this is a do-it-yourself person. Obviously a shop can't take that kind of risk. There's a lot of ways that you can do it that will work but a shop is simply not allowed to do.
Nice idea Brian. I'll give it a shot on my next job.
No good if the water pump needs changing as well, it should be.
The water pump was not changed because it was in perfect condition and was still o.k. several years later so it would have just been money wasted.
@@confabrication it’s hard to tell really. It might look good now but I’m 3 years time ? If the pump starts leaking you’ve got to do the job again and pumps are cheap. I’m not knocking the idea it seems to make sense but I always change the pump. If that pump siezed up it will strip the belt and wreck the engine.
I'm fully aware of what you say about a wrecked engine, etc., but I gambled and won in this instance. Q.E.D.
@@confabrication good
No way to replace tensioners, water pump, etc…
Dislike.
Wow, what a horrific way to carry out a job. Either do it properly or don't bother.
🤣 this is obviously a do-it-yourself. There are many cars out there that paying someone to do it professionally cost more than what the car is currently worth. This is obviously not a place for you. He did give his disclaimer before he even started the video
@@JoseDiaz-rd9fh why does it have to cost a fortune to do a job your self the right way?
@@pyrojunkie88 probably because people are afraid of messing it up. I held back on trying for a long time wish I hadn't. Besides the money you save it's a great feeling to be able to do it yourself
Valve crashing party in the making. Save no time. I like the creative concept but would not even think of attempting.
How would it cause interference? Timing is maintained, and this is likely a non interference engine to begin with.
Way to show what you know about when you open your mouth.
@@j.c.matteson7449to each is own. Been in the industry since 99. Calm down keyboard warrior
@@MattJHerold hes got a point you keep the exact timming
What about the water pump duh!!... whats the whole idea of this?? you either a mechanic or not, .... Simple !
The water pump was fine (and still is !) so why needlessly replace a perfectly functioning item. The "whole idea" was merely to show an alternative method to replacing the belt. And nowhere did I claim to be a mechanic....
@@confabrication pay no attention to the haters some of us who are limited with our knowledge that appreciate this video. Besides not all water pumps are driven by the timing belt.
@@JoseDiaz-rd9fh Thanks, Jose, for comments. As you say there's no point in replying to the nay-sayers who probably in most cases have little hands-on knowledge and are merely armchair critics. I did this experiment at the time to see if it was feasible and it was.
And, incidentally, the water pump that I was criticized for not replacing at the time is still going strong over 3 years later !
@@confabrication is it possible to simply lock the gears in place? With some kind of special tool that should allow you to just swap the belt out the same way no? I have a 2000 Hyundai accent and I don't believe that I have the timing belt access the same way you displayed on that car. It's more of a vertical setup not really much horizontal to it
Amazing! Thankyou