TDI 300 timing belt to tight ??

[Matt & Jo]

Hi all. have just replaced the timing belt on my TDI300 and for some reason the belt was so tight to fit. it was the second time i have replaced it and the first time it went on with no problems. My mechanic friend that help me install it said, don't put the cover on untill i find out why it was so tight.
Was i given the wrong belt. is the TDI200's belt very similar.??
Matt & Jo

[justinc]

300Tdi has 118 teeth, 200Tdi 109teeth.

Did you replace the bottom pulley with a new one piece one? If so, pay close attention to where the belt passes under, as it can sometimes ride over the teeth as they are a tigt fit with new gear against new belt and make the belt very difficult to fit. It only seems to happen with the new crank pulleys but isn't a problem after the belt is on proper. There really isn't any other reason for it unless you tried a different method of slipping the belt on this time. Trying to slip the belt over the pump or cam gear is a real task. I usually loosen the tensioner right off, remove the idler completely, fit the belt over all the gears and then slip the idler over its stud, pushing sideways towards the belt and then after I have pushed it in as far as I can, do up the locknut. Then set the tensioner, rotate the engine several times, the recheck tendion.

JC

[Matt & Jo]

Thanks for the reply. we did replace the pully this time. We had to remove the tension allan head bolt just to get the belt on. It took some force to get the bolt back in. No ajustment was needed once bolt was in place. Not the case last time.

[justinc]

Thanks for the reply. we did replace the pully this time. We had to remove the tension allan head bolt just to get the belt on. It took some force to get the bolt back in. No ajustment was needed once bolt was in place. Not the case last time.

That hasn't been my experience with 300Tdi, the 200Tdi however will sometimes require almost no tensioner adjustment after fitment especially in a Defender, which has no idler at all.

Are you certain the tensioner and the idler are seated properly? The idler must locate in the tensioner bracket, which I am sure you are aware of but is worthwhile mentioning.

Take another squiz, because the belt should be quite slack on a 300Tdi when the tensioner is 'relaxed'.

JC

[mox]

Earlier 300 Tdi's had problems with timing belt failures and some modifications to parts was made to try and overcome them. There are a couple of upgrade kits, with the one required largely depending on the engine number.

I gather that an important contributer to belt failures was apparently about the last one recognised ie Recommended tension on the belt was too tight. Maybe no problem for the belt itself. However, the tensioner and /or idler pulleys mounted on the timing belt housing would run slightly out of line due to the housing flexing. I have forgotten the earlier recommendation for belt tension and the much lower one suggested by the Land Rover mechanic who supplied parts when I changed timing belt myself.

Maybe someone more familiar with details than I am can confirm this. If it does not come in a post on this forum soon, worth checking with mechanics who have changed timing belts in 300Tdi's recently.