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One of my customers has a P-reg fiesta 1.25 it has covered only 27,000 miles . What do people suggest in regards to timing belt replacement , my book says 100,000 miles or 10 years is that pushing it ? Or are these relatively safe to leave till the due time ?
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I would push to do it now as it is pretty much time expired. I have done two now, one at 50k miles, the other at 5 years and both had noisy tensioners and the 5 year belt had cracks at the roots of the teeth. Not saying they wouldnt have gone the distance but I felt happier once done.Dont try and fudge the job without the special tools, trust me!
Andrew
Simplicate and add lightness!!
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Andrew,
What special tools are required and who makes / supplies them? Will the tools work for all zetec s engines?
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You will need the tool to hold the crank pulley while you undo the pulley bolt (I made mine) a pin to lock the crank and a setting bar for the cams. The cam and crank locking tools are available from most factors (Sealy, Laser, Draper) but as far as I know the crank holding tool is only available from Ford. I made mine from a length of 1.5" x .25" bar about 18" long with two 3/8" bolts to suit the crank pulley at one end. (It all becomes aparrent when you look at the crank pulley) Just remember to get everything nearly lined up before undoing the pulley bolt then just loosen it slightly before putting the locking pins in. Reason is that once the crank bolt is loose the belt sprocket is free to spin on the crank as it has no key of any sort it relies on friction to drive it. Pony idea or what?!?
Andrew
Simplicate and add lightness!!
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Thanks for your replies Andrew .
I think I'll let Ford do it as it's not worth the expense for one maybe two customers in buying the tools .By the way I have done several other Zetec belts ( escorts ) by marking original positions - as far as I know they're still going !
Surely the only reason to have to move the camshaft wheels is if the original belt has worn slightly thus necessitating a slight movement of one cam or the other to fit the new belt . I wouldn't slacken the camshaft wheels as one would only be putting them back in the correct place for the new belt ?
As for the crank pulley/sprocket arrangement , sounds like the same as some renaults ?
Is it possible to mark the ring gear/ fly wheel someway to ensure it goes back in the same place ?
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Try speedways.co.uk for timing belts and the set up kit. The latter costs £45.99.
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You have been lucky to get the alignment right on the Zetecs you have done so far. On several occasions I have had to correct the alignment for clients following a cambelt change using the tippex method. My kit has paid for itself several times over. I( originally bought the Draper kit for about £18 which was the cam holding tool and locking bar then added the locking pin for the Yamaha Zetecs.
Andrew
Simplicate and add lightness!!
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Andrew,
Thanks for detailed replies - very helpful! Is the procedure for cambelt replacement the same for a Focus with the 1.6 zetec s engine?
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