An update! After fearing my valves were all ruined, I took a closer
look today. The belt had a shread fall off, but the bolt I dropped
into it did not cause it to skip. However, I confirmed that the
timing WAS off previously! No matter how many times I checked it,
with pins in the 3 pulleys, the exhaust cam was one tooth retarded.
Got a new timing belt and put it on. What a chore! It took several
tries, some cursing, and ripping up the backs of my hands on the
body, but I got the new belt on and lined up. Started it up, and
it's way better now! It doesn't idle great, but then neither does my
other Mi16 or the 2 others I've owned besides that. It's got a bit
of a miss now and again (makes a PUFF sound from the exhaust), but
it's not on 3 cylinders, and it's not shaking and bucking.
Is there a proper way for the DIY mechanic to tension the belt? My
Haynes manual states that some special tool must be used, but also
gives instructions to set it temporarily.
It's also strange to me that there is a tensioner in the front run
of the belt. Would the valve timing not change depending on how this
tensioner is set? What is optimum belt tension does not give optimum
valve timing and vice versa?
Received on Sun Feb 17 19:49:01 2008
