the flyin' scotsman

what's a flat bed

we use preventative maintenance otherwise you'll be froze to death.

Ethre

At the time I actually had the center cover off. I had just replaced the oil pump gear and wanted to keep an eye on that bolt. Thank you all for pointing out that, without a "modified" center cover, it is probably impossible to remove that with the harmonic balancer on.

I don't ever recall seeing anything on those pins though - unless the guide piece to which you are referring is part of the cover??

You've got a sharp memory Greg.
This was actually the second timing belt (replaced by a shop this fall, then I replaced that one while replacing the oil pump gear). I had planned on replacing the crank gear, oil pump gear, and belt (since I didn't know how much wear the worn gears had caused), but couldn't get the crank gear loose. So, I only did the oil pump gear and belt, leaving the crank gear for a time when I had a torch accessible. That's actually why I had a spare with me, because I didn't throw out the old belt.
I see several possibilities for the belt loosing teeth (it shed ~10 teeth):
-improper installation/tension
-wear from crank gear
-rock or road debris hitting belt

I am inclined to believe the last one as the most probable cause, since I tensioned and installed the belt in the same manner as previous (hair below the top of the window on Kempf tool), and the "old" (~300 mi) belt I put on got me faithfully through the 1000 miles home.
I had checked the tension and belt condition before taking off, and also before I removed it, and they were exactly the same, so I don't believe belt stretch could have had anything to do with it.
I suppose it is possible that I simply had a defective belt, or that the Flennor belt (the one I replaced here) is more sensitive to worn gears than the Continental.
Still, a pebble or something running through the belt seems the most logical to me, though I detected no new wear on the belt gears or pulleys.

Landseer

Wear on the crank gear is on the edge closest to block. Gets sharp enough to cut a finger. You wouldn't see it leaving it in-situ while knee deep in median strip grass.

Entire system needs to come down and be inspected when you get the chance.

The PET should have illustrated the parts and you should be refering to it and the WSM on these projects, regardless of whether you are pursuing a BS, MS or PhD in engineering. These cars just aren't that intuitive.

A pair of pins on the lower right side of the crank gear hold a cast metal carriage, to which is fitted a roller with replaceable bearing. Some leave them off, I reinstall.

GlenL

Earlier car have a plastic part with no roller.

Must be missing on the OP's car.

Gregg K

You're challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to change your timing belt and get your car operational. Your wife is in labor, you have only a crescent wrench, and a timing belt. You have three hours in which to repair the car, after which you will be forced to shift jobs and begin the new challenge of delivering a baby.

This could be better than Top Gear.

blown 87

Wow, three belts and it is still not repaired right, it MAY have been simpler to do it right the first time.

I would not use a torch on the crank bolt, BTW.

Dean_Fuller

I think we have all done jobs more than once a time or 2.

Tom....GREAT to hear you could get this done on the side of the road!!! Awesome job! I've been working on these for a few years now and if a TB went on a trip somewhere I would just look for a flatbed back home.

blown 87

I have done one clutch job on a ranger seven times, (long story of bad parts and mis boxed parts, we put the original clutch back in twice and it worked) the customer only got charged for one, he paid to have the first one done, no excuse for him having to do any of it again after he paid to have it done, unless he declined some repairs that were needed to do the job right the first time.

That is what I am not getting, no reason for him to have to change anything after a shop did the work, and they were familiar with the 928's to boot.

Dennis Wilson

In the late 80's I had a long commute for work and put nearly 200K miles on my 924. There was a 5 mile area (black hole) that was not serviced by any local towing services. Guess where I almost always broke down?

Dennis

Landseer

That is a pretty big feat, actually, to replace a belt on the road. But a unique situation, both caused and rectified by various aspects of a previously mis-installed belt. This car has been being mishandled since its Williston days.

Dean_Fuller

I totally agree...I know from first hand experience that the crank bolt and washer was installed backwards that caused a lack of compression on one of the belt pulley's not to mention the badly worn oil pump gear.

Dean_Fuller

Sounds like my kind of luck.

danglerb

I figure if I can't have the best running most reliable car, the best towing is essential, AAA, just got my 50+ year gold membership card.

Ethre

Chris - I think you misread my post on the gear wear. I know I have a worn crank gear, but this belt failed early (relative to two other belts which lasted more than twice as long as this one did). That makes me suspicious that I may have eaten a pebble or something - though I detected no extra wear (or gouges) on the gears.
I know why my belts are failing early (though this one failed earlier), and understood the risk I was taking when I couldn't get the crank gear loose.
I'm sorry I didn't have a parts catalog with me when I made my earlier reply. As Glen mentioned, it looks like I am supposed to have small plastic guide. When I read the FSM, I don't normally go looking for parts to be missing. If it would have been mentioned in the procedure, I probably would have noticed it missing. As it was, I see it only in the diagram and I missed it absence. I'm sorry that this seems to offend you so.


Greg - crank gear, not bolt. Any reason then not to use a torch? Are you thinking fire risk if there's any oil around? Thank you.

Ethre

By the way - DanglerB. I've got one of them handy things.
I had to try and do it myself though, and at 3 AM when I'm 30 miles from a town it probably would have taken just as long!