Cambelt Changing

[Chris Coxall]

Your advice please

I'm just about to change the cambelt on my 1.6 K series.

The engine will still be in place in the car.

What is the best way of locking the engine to enable undoing/doing back up of the bottom pulley bolt.

The cams will obviously have the locking tool but how do you lock the fly wheel.

Thanking you in advance.

[oilyhands]

This has worked on over 100 Caterhams without fail.

 

Above and below the starter there are gaps which allow access to the flywheel / ringgear. A stout screwdriver wedged into the ring gear will lock the flywheel, do not be tempted to try locking by putting the vehicle in gear and standing on the brakes, there is too much wind up in the transmission.

 

Oily

 

Edited by - oilyhands on 5 Dec 2011 21:50:12

[Shad]

Is there any way to do this once the engine is out of the car? Perhaps if the engine is on a stand?

[ECR]

Make yourself a flywheel locking plate (or buy one). It's basicaly a finger that's bolted through one of the bellhousing bolt up holes and latches into the flywheel ring gear to stop it turning. Very easy

[Tony Whitley]

The bottom pulley bolt is *mad*ing tight, I think you'd struggle if the engine's out.

[Wrightpayne]

I wouldn't put the cam locking tool in place until the pulley bolt is loosened.

 

Ian

[Englishmaninwales]

Quoting ECR: 

Make yourself a flywheel locking plate (or buy one). It's basicaly a finger that's bolted through one of the bellhousing bolt up holes and latches into the flywheel ring gear to stop it turning. Very easy

 

See here

 

This is the correct tool if the engine is out of the car for the front pulley and flywheel bolts

[Sheds Moderator]

I did mine without a flywheel locking tool but you have to be careful. The right tool would be a definite bonus. As others have said you must loosen the crank pulley before locking the cams. This isn't something you can afford to bodge up.

[stevethemook]

The bottom pulley bolt is a *mad*ing tight, I think you'd struggle if the engine's out.

 

It is..Tried locking the flywheel with a screwdriver..still could not remove it..

 

So put a socket and wrench on the pulley bolt,placed a piece of wood on the chassis,placed the wrench on the wood ,disconnected the spark leads and turned the engine over.. TAKE CARE IF YOU DO IT THIS WAY AND MAKE SURE THE WOOD IS IN THE CORRECT POSITION...It was the only way I could do it.

 

Everything else was easy

 

Steve

[Tony Whitley]

My method is slightly less agricultural! I jack the car up, fit socket with breaker bar so the end is on the floor, lower the car.

[Mankee]

I used the DVA method of jamming a big screwdriver/chisel/pry bar in the flywheel area to hold everything still. With the engine out of the car and no flywheel locking tool to hand, I put a couple of bolts that hold clutch cover on, wedged a bar between the two and the floor and a breaker bar to undo the crank pulley bolt.

[irrotational]

Stupid question - how do you get the pulley that tight again, after you have undone it!?

[Mankee]

As the Haynes manuals like to say, refitment is the reversal of removal, so jam the flywheel still with your favourite pointy instrument and torque up the pulley bolt. The assistance of a volunteer is helpful.

[Bricol]

I did mine by sticking it in gear, sticking the g/f in the drivers seat with instructions to press the brake pedal and simply undid it with a long breaker bar. Done up the same way too, other than subsituting a rather large torque wrench for the breaker bar.

 

Obviously the engine was in the car, and the car was on the ground 😬

 

Bri

[Chris Coxall]

Thanks everybody

Like your thinking Tony - let the car do the work