Timing belt question

[Forkhandles2]

Going to have a bash at the timing belt on my Focus 1.6 petrol Mk2 soon. Anyway, bought the locking pins and the bar that locks the cams, obviously I will need to undo the crank pulley. As it’s not keyed to the crank, my understanding of the job is that I get it to TDC, put the crank pin in (not the cam bar - but make sure they line up) then undo the crank bolt on the pulley. I’ll be using an impact gun for this. Is it necessary to use the flywheel locking tool if I’m using the impact gun or is this just for if you are using a breaker bar?

The crank would be resting against the crank pin so I’d have a datum of where it needed to go.

[Old Merc]

If you use the crank locking pin to hold the engine while undoing the crank bolt you run the risk of bending or snapping it. I`ve always slackened the crank bolt first with an air gun then set the crank pin and cam tool. Then when the jobs finished hold the engine at the flywheel to fully tighten the crank bolt.

[Forkhandles2]

Probably just as well locking the flywheel from the outset then I guess. Cheers!

[stevemcs]

You might need a new aux belt, it may be a stretchy one that's easier to cut off. Fitting a new one is a nightmare

[DVandrews]

On a friends car I locked the flywheel at the rear of the engine using a screwdriver in the ring gear via a small window where the ring gear was visible as I didnt have a flywheel lock tool, whatever you do dont use the crank *location* tool to lock the crank, it wont, it will simply destroy itself.

Dave

[Forkhandles2]

So if I turn the engine to just before TDC, lock the flywheel, whip the bolt off and the pulley, fit the bolt back, then the crank pin then turn it a fraction to bring the crankshaft web up against the locking pin?

[DVandrews]

That’s pretty much what I did.. I cracked the bolt so it was only just tight enough to clamp the lower sprocket, I didnt remove the pulley until the crank was positioned correctly.

Dave

[DeadCatWalking]

Old Merc said:

If you use the crank locking pin to hold the engine while undoing the crank bolt you run the risk of bending or snapping it. I`ve always slackened the crank bolt first with an air gun then set the crank pin and cam tool. Then when the jobs finished hold the engine at the flywheel to fully tighten the crank bolt.

This.

[blade7]

I recently changed the belts and water pump on a mk7 Fiesta 1.6 Zetec. The pulley on that engine isn't keyed to the crank either. Ford wanted well over £500 and Indys over £400, and they said they use paint on the pulleys rather than locking them. I guess if you've done loads, that and spinning the crank bolt out with an impact gun works. The crank and cam lock tools weren't that expensive.

[Forkhandles2]

Locking tools are something like £14 delivered, can’t see why you’d not use them tbh.

[DVandrews]

Because they lock the cams, the ‘locking device’ for the crank is simply a locating device, don t be suckered into thinking it will be up to the job of preventing the crank turning while you heave on the pulley bolt, it wont, it will bend/snap off and then you will be severely rogered.

Ask me how I know..

Dave

[blade7]

DVandrews said:

Because they lock the cams, the ‘locking device’ for the crank is simply a locating device, don t be suckered into thinking it will be up to the job of preventing the crank turning while you heave on the pulley bolt, it wont, it will bend/snap off and then you will be severely rogered.

Ask me how I know..

Dave

On the 1.6 zetec there's a TDC bolt, and a crank lock tool. Never done a mk2 Focus, but understand a TDC bolt would bend.

[blade7]

stevemcs said:

You might need a new aux belt, it may be a stretchy one that's easier to cut off. Fitting a new one is a nightmare

Just rotate the pulley, and guide the belt on with a bit of flat bar.

[227bhp]

If this is anything like a Duratec the locking tools are for clockwise motion and timing setting only, if you try using the one which goes through the side of the block anti-clockwise the crank will just bend it sideways and snap it off.
My mechanic neighbour at work had one in that was running like a pos. Knowing that engine well the first thing I advised was check the cam timing and the pulley had indeed slipped on the cam, lined it up with the tools, tightened the pulley up and it was fine. Certain models of that engine came with diamond washers behind the pulleys to prevent that.

Ultimately the only correct way is to lock the flywheel to tighten it up, but no I wouldn't be bothered with that either...

[Forkhandles2]

Safer to say I’ll order the flywheel locking thing then!