Serge944

I was doing a belt job today and came a cross a "little" problem. The Flennor brand t-belt was clearly diffective as it didn't line up with the sprocket at all, as you can see in the pics. Lucky for me, my friend had a spare conti belt which lined up like a dream!

I could imagine someone putting on a slightly defective belt such as this one and getting premature belt failure. I also noticed that the belt is irregular on only some portions of the belt. If you're not careful and don't spin the crank to double check, you can easily land yourself into a quick valve job.

Also, for those of you who sheared teeth off belts, what brand t-belt did you use? I wonder what Flennor's reputation is like even though it clearly has German writing on the box.

Friendan

I had Conti's put on when I got them done. My mechanic didn't think twice about choosing them.

My balance belt had failed and the timing belt once pulled off you could actually pull the teeth off with your fingers. I didn't check the brand though, it was so old anyways...

Mark944na86

No problem. Completely normal. It will ride up with wear.

-Mark

Serge944

You don't understand, it wouldn't even fit when fully tensioned. I wouldn't start the car for 2 seconds with that belt!

Also, one more thing - the teeth were a different shape than the conti belt!

KuHL 951

I'll vouch for what Serge says here. I'm sorry Mark but that belt would never seat right. The belt was clearly progressively off after just 10 teeth. Look at the deformation on the tensioned side in the upper right quadrant; the teeth are being stretched and completely off center. Look at the belt as it goes CCW from that point and the teeth on the belt would never seat properly resulting in a complete failure in no time. This belt was so far out of spec it's laughable. The Conti belt under the exact conditions was perfectly aligned. Even the profile of the belts when we held them side by side were different; the Fleenor belt was not cut as deep in the gulleys and the teeth were narrower causing it to ride high at each cam sprocket tooth. I would hate to see how long this new belt would have lasted under load and the damage that would have resulted. Time for a refund I would say!

Zero10

Usually they sit a tiny bit out, sometimes the last couple teeth don't sit right until tensioned, but that is most definately excessive!!

Mark944na86

Sorry. Forgot this: j/k.

-Mark

bleucamaro

Oh ****, I'll have to pre-fit my belts. . . great
Serge, you wouldn't happent to have the offset wrench tool and flywheel lock that I could borrow would you? mine still haven't come in

edit: this is the belt I got, What brand is it? what brand is yours?

Serge944

You should PM Kuhl 951 - he has all the tools.

Also, once youre ready to do the belts, be sure to remove the fan (if you don't have the A/C line in the way like those 951s). It gives you so much more room to work with!

bleucamaro

I'm more than ready to do the belts. everything is off, the engine is at TDC, just waiting on my flywheel lock. Is Kuhl 951 in Sacto area?

Serge944

Sure is. West sac to be exact.

KuHL 951

West Sac? You were just here 2 hours ago Serge. Actually just 14 miles North up lovely Hwy. 99 in Elk Grove. Send me a PM I'd be glad to do a tool loan. Might cost you an hour on that lift of yours though

Steve

Serge944

Ya...I think the anti freeze I swallowed, changing my fan sendor, affected my brain.

Magown

What a whussy thing to do.

Serge944

I wish I would have installed that faulty belt. That way at least the valves would break on the people who stole my car last night.