|
I think there's a market out there to produce belts and tensioners that last to their recommended replacement schedule.
|
|
I think there's a market out there to chuck away all cam belts and replace with proper duplex chains and sprockets and with some engine oil splashing around. In my limited experience the chain system always gives noisy warning of failure.
|
|
|
|
Brian,
Nice idea, as you cold then see all the whizzy bits going roundy roundy!
However, not all all that usefull in preventing failures. Sure. a belt that looks bad (cracking, rough edges, bits of rubber everywhere etc!!) should ring alarm bells, but belts replaced at the correct intervals should still look OK. If an owner asks me for an inspection/report on a cambelt it has to be worded very carefully, as what looks good today can cause tears tomorrow.
Absolutely agree with other comments, though, that belts should last to advised intervals. Many premature failures (especially after replacement of factory fitted first belt) are due to foriegn bodies accessing belt due to poorly re-fitted covers, or due to failure of other components (water pumps, tensioners etc).
Personally, unless the car maker recommends less, I suggest 50,000 as tops on anything. Most belts come from one of two or three original manufacturers, and I have my doubts that they make them differently for different car makers!!
Regards, Adam
|
Adam is right in that the correct time to replace a timing belt is when it looks OK. Often the only way to see the start of failure is to remove the belt, turn it "inside-out" so the teeth are on the outside, pinch it into a tight radius and roll it round to inspect the root/base of each tooth. This is often where the cracks will start. Many belts replaced at the correct interval and subjected to this enthusiastic test will throw up at least one or two early signs of cracking.
And after doing all this you're not going to re-fit that belt are you!
Awkward devil that I am I refuse to inspect timing belts on the cars I look after, as Adam comments any report has to be so carefully worded as to be near useless. If you are worried about a belt and have no proof of a recent change then it's time to replace. And by proof I don't mean the word of the last seller that he remembers his mate helping to do it one Sunday after a session down the pub! You want to see the actual receipt from the garage who changed it and make a judgement on their likely level of competance.
Give the customer all this information/warnings and then let them choose. At the end of the day it's a bit like any optional insurance, some go for it and others rely on luck.
David
|
|
|
|
