stevefoster Posted February 28, 2002 Share Posted February 28, 2002 Good and bad last night.... Two 7 mates came around and 3 mechanics is less efficient than 2 for sure! We fitted the belt and did so as the manual said on replacing the tensioner for good measure. Doing as told moving the tensioner clockwise all the way holding while tightening up tensioner retaining bolt. Then two full revs clockwise of the crank. Check everything is still aligned... Then it said go to section 7. Where it babbled about if refitting old belts and using the V mark but 4mm left of this.... So we did not do that of course. Embedded in the that part was the new belt tensioning instructions! "Move the allen key slot until the pointer is in the middle of the V.Then 2 rotations of the crank and check it is still in the centre of the V". This we missed and did not do... We ran the engine up for a short while..no problems all seemed quiet and fine etc. Then the mates went home and I checked things again on my own in peace and quiet and read the part about new belt fitting that I/we had missed. So I took the ancillary pulley off again and reset the tensioner and did several lots of 2 revs to make sure all was ok and the pointer was in the middle of the V. Not sure if it was overtight or slack the first time we ran it.... still, seems to be no harm done and it was only running for a short while. I have a slight worry about it of course. Did we run it too tight.. Perhaps stress ed it or stretched it? How tough are these belts? Stretched: Well not as much as the old belt (that was noticeably longer) and logic says that if the pointer needs to be 4mm more to the left for an old stretched belt then around to the right as we ran it should be slacker... but it is a bit weird how the tensioner can go round and round it could have got tighter where we set it... What happens now is that pointer is set to the V it moves around a bit depending on where you are in the compression cycle when doing it by hand. Of course when it's running I guess it is constant. It was too late to start it again when I had finished. Any list wisdom? Out of interest. Another Manual I have for pre 93 engines says chuck the old belt and fit a new one everytime the current one is removed! Very different to the manual for all engines... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted February 28, 2002 Share Posted February 28, 2002 Steve, The earlier versions of the engine run a very differnt belt in terms of tooth profile. I can'[t comment on the proceedure you used, because on the older engines it is sufficient to measure the slack between the cam pullies. Fat Arn The NOW PROVEN R500 Eaterid=red> See the Lotus Seven Club 4 Counties Area Website hereid=green> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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