Just made a stupid mistake doing a cambelt change

[Paulie1968]

Everything was going great..... then torqued +180 degrees  the bottom pulley bolt then reversed it a tad to take the pin out, then forgot my rachet was still attached to the bottom bolt, thought Id leave the wheel off while I started it..... seconds later  the engine spinning had undone the bolt  there was clunk of my bottom pully hitting the ground

Question is will that of affected the timing, ? I dont see why it would as the timing belt is not affected

Also do I now need to order a new bottom bolt for it to stretch it 180 degrees again

So hacked off with myself for rushing...beer time I think!

[stef123]

It's a floating crank pulley so yes there's every chance. That crank pulley and bolt are the only thing keeping the timing correct as there's no key way. 

[iantt]

8 bent exhaust valves probably .  Plonker at work forgot to do the degrees and only torqued the crank bolt. Needless to say it didn't run for long. Lol . he said he did tighten it correctly and wasn't his fault. Yeah, right. 

[Paulie1968]

Ah not good then, any guides to setting/checking the timing?

[iantt]

When you say setting /checking timing, I take it you used the plate in the back of the cams to set timing up first of all?? 

[Paulie1968]

no used 3 pins.... but now youve said that I guess try putting the pins back in and see where I'm at with it I guess?

[stef123]

So if you didn’t use a setting bar, how did you loosen off the cam sprockets?

[iantt]

What engine are we discussing? I assumed petrol 1.6. maybe he has diesel? 

[stef123]

1 minute ago, iantt said:

What engine are we discussing? I assumed petrol 1.6. maybe he has diesel? 

I took it to be 1.6 petrol🤯

[iantt]

It's a diesel, I thought it strange 180 degrees. So he is lucky. Put the pulley back on and tighten up with a new bolt.

[Paulie1968]

 Sorry I should be clear in my profile, I have 3 fords, ST150 2006 laid up waiting for a rebuild as it drinks oil, a Mk2 Focus 05 1.6TDCI (DPF) I bought for spares for a £100 but turned out to be mechanically better that the 1.6 TDCI Sport (non DPF) which I'm working on now is my mums car, so trashing that car would bring me a heap of moaning

 

Thats a relief, going to start back on it this morning with fresh eyes and plenty of sunlight

[iantt]

The timing will still be ok, the pulley has no effect on this. Just put the pulley back on .

[Botus]

wow..... I hope its all OK

 

are we really saying on 1.6 vvti the bottom camshaft pully sits in place by a tight bolt and shear luck?  that would be one of the most stupid engineering feats ever

[TomsFocus]

1 hour ago, Botus said:

wow..... I hope its all OK

 

are we really saying on 1.6 vvti the bottom camshaft pully sits in place by a tight bolt and shear luck?  that would be one of the most stupid engineering feats ever

The pulley isn't keyed on a lot of Ford petrols…  It's held in place by friction anyway, a keyway is only a fitting guide, it wouldn't last long if all the torque went through that small area.  Cheaper and easier for mass production to do away with a keyway, they're not interested in the after sales maintenance lol.  

 

[Botus]

if its on a taper, you can get a very tight fit and it won't go anywhere...  it would also mean one could get the cam timing right without vernier cam wheels..... well, within realms of what the wear on the cam sprockets are (but one will be right)

[Paulie1968]

Alls well, test drive to town  and back topped up the coolent everythings doing what it should, just about to order another bolt as I've had to use the one I've already streched one

Such a stupid mistake, if the rachet had been set the other way theres every chance I'd have a shear off bolt in the crank now instead of spinning undone...... I got off lightly I think

[isetta]

I have also done that on a Escort Mk5. Which luckily had a keyed belt sprocket so no damage done. I had left a long ring spanner on bottom pulley bolt when started engine. 

[Botus]

my mate used another method to get his pulley off.....

wait till the dual mass flywheel fails, then drive for another 1000miles... the additional vibes and knocking will make the pulley  the other end come lose.... keep driving and then you can trash the crank and breakdown all at once....    he got  a new cam belt to go with his new short engine only cost £3k

[Paulie1968]

15 hours ago, isetta said:

I have also done that on a Escort Mk5. Which luckily had a keyed belt sprocket so no damage done. I had left a long ring spanner on bottom pulley bolt when started engine. 

I feel so much better knowing I'm not the only one lol