400 mile gates racing TB snap

[gst96spyderman]

Okay. I'm cruising down south for new years, and car starts to sputter in 5th @ 80mph. Then she dies on me. Pull over, and find out the timing belt snapped in two. Pretty clean also. Only had 400 miles on her. Dosen't look like the belt skipped a tooth. Balance shaft eliminated. New parts include: Gates Timing belt, OEM Timing belt adjuster, TB Timing Pulley, h20 pump. Basically EVERYTHING recommended in replacing a blown HG.

My question is A. What would have caused this?
B. Do I have a legitimate Labor Claim?

Parts ordered from extremepsi.com

 

[cookmeup272]

Did you have it set at the right tension?

 

[pur97tsifwd]

When you installed the belt did you put the recommended amount of tension on the bearing that puts tension on the belt and torque the bolt to spec.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Sounds like the tension wasnt right. If it just snapped, perhaps too tight so now you need to redo it and figure out what happened. Doesnt sound like a belt problem.

 

[SpawnedX]

Unless that's a kevlar belt by Gate's you have no racing belt. This is a poor installation situation, improper tension. Regardless of such, you have no claim againt Extreme or Gate's this is the do at your own risk part of fixing cars.

 

[RvlutionMtrsprt]

Take a picture of where the tensioner pulley is adjusted to before you loosen anything or take it apart. Post it. This will tell the tale of weather or not it was adjusted properly to begin with. If it was adjusted properly, and there was no damage to the belt from oils or something riding on it (bolt that fell out, damaged cam gear, etc..) I'd say you're at least owed a belt.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Yep in that case every part on my car I did failed, i dont see you having a case, there not reponsible, for the damage. I feel your pain how would you go about proving the belt broke prematurely?

 

[gst96spyderman]

Alright. I didn't do timing job. I did headgasket until point of timing belt. I'll have to start breaking down head here in a little. The belt is Gates Racing Kevlar... As of right now, I guess I'm looking at this being the mechanic's fault... I don't know how to pursue this without being an asshole and telling the guy that it is his responsibility and that I expect this to be fixed with no cost to me... Any suggestions? The tensioner pulley turns, and seems to have been installed properly. Well at the time... As I stated before, the belt snapped in two pretty cleanly. Hopefully this isn't catastrophic

Yep in that case every part on my car I did failed, i dont see you having a case, there not reponsible, for the damage. I feel your pain how would you go about proving the belt broke prematurely?

Well, based on time of purchase was 12/15/10 so there is no possible way to put more than 10,000 miles on it... I can document when belt was purchased as well as odometer reading upon completion of HG/timng belt repair... but I'm going to at least get a new gates racing timing belt replacement

 

[92AWDHX40]

An asshole hell if he did it go see, your money, sounds like problem with him then. I would be there first thing in the morning having it out. Thats just me, dont im not a nice person when it comes to my personal items of money, so go find out.

 

[gst96spyderman]

Alright. I spoke with Gates Corp. Told me to have mechanic start and send off paper work for labor claim. Basically told me they would honor warranty, as well as accept responsibility for damage caused by malfunctioning part. I haven't had head tore down yet, but will be done in a few hours. I'm going to go ahead and put OEM timing belt back on. I really hope the head isn't damaged. Anyways, this is what they've told me over the phone. I honestly hope this is going to work out

 

[BigBeans]

The tensioner pulley turns, and seems to have been installed properly.

Can you take a pic so we can see what angle it was set at? this will give a rough idea if it may have been over-torqued causing too much tension on the belt.

I highly doubt it was a defective T-Belt.

 

[gst96spyderman]

Nor do I. I will have pictures posted tomorrow. Car is at home and I work until 5 ish.