Timing belt & pulleys appear to have been rubbing against inside of lower cover

[juntjoo]

Anyone dealt with this problem b4? There is a definite groove along the path off the belt and pulleys. It would explain why my timing belt snapped only along the outside edge. Maybe previous tech tightened bolts too much? But I wouldn't imagine the cover would be made to allow that to happen. Any ideas? Thanks

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[banishedmunk]

Check to see if the tensioner pulley has been bolted on backwards.

 

[knochgoon24]

There's a "gasket" that goes between the cover and the engine. It spaces the cover out another 1/8" or so. They are made of plastic and like to crack, so they sometimes get left off. It looks like that's exactly what happened.

 

[bryanwheat]

The belt still shouldn't touch without the gasket. I've ran quite a few without it and have yet to have one rub the cover. I'd say it's more likely a few missing sleeves in the mounting holes. That will pull the cover closer.

 

[tcbikerguy6]

I had the same exact problem with my lower timing belt cover. Mine somewhat melted and I think that is why it rubbed a hole through my cover.

 

[juntjoo]

The plastic gasket is there as is slightly visible in the pic, I don't know about any "sleeves". The holes mostly appear to be like metal washers save for 2 which are lined with rubber washers/gaskets, but the cover its cut out for them so I wouldn't think that the holes without them were made 4 them. And I'll have to check if any pulley was installed backwards. Thanks 4 your replies.

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[SlowChild3]

I'd say distortion from heat and age could be a factor.

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[juntjoo]

Dang, that lower cover costs over $100! Like $130. I wonder if it happened BECAUSE the belt snapped on the outside, because when it happened I drove about two miles before getting home and I guess it's possible it was bulging outward the whole time causing that gouging, if which were the case I shouldn't have to fork up the $130.... Perhaps I'll take my chances. Unfortunately I can't think of an easy way to diagnose and test this.

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[Calan]

The cover has very little clearance in some places, and warps pretty easily if it gets hot. I've seen a few of them with grooves caused by the t-belt and crank pulley, but it usually happens slowly over a period of time. I doubt that it would cause a t-belt failure though.

Your pic looks more like the t-belt was riding off the pulleys for some reason; most likely a wobbling (i.e. worn out) idler or tensioner pulley.

 

[fallenauthority]

It looks like inside of the grooves that were cut into the cover that the plastic looks clean and fresh as if it JUST happened. So it probably came from your timing belt coming apart on the edge and rubbing it as you drove it home, if it had been like that for a while it wouldnt be so clean where the belt rubbed on the cover

 

[Lofty]

Or possibly the fact that it was tensioned too loosely.

 

[juntjoo]

It looks like inside of the grooves that were cut into the cover that the plastic looks clean and fresh as if it JUST happened. So it probably came from your timing belt coming apart on the edge and rubbing it as you drove it home, if it had been like that for a while it wouldnt be so clean where the belt rubbed on the cover

I like that sherlock. Makes sense and sounds good for my wallet

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[LiquidX]

I know your pain, I used a brand spanking new lower cover for my 6 bolt swap and for some odd reason, the top middle portion bows in a bit and rubs on the cam gears. I'm trying to figure out what to do to fix it as well.

 

[Calan]

Carefully heat it up with a torch, and then pry on it a little when it softens up.

You can also bend the tabs on the head that it bolts to inwards or outwards, which will move it around a bit.

 

[LiquidX]

I'll have to try that when I get around to getting money to do my timing belt. I'll still be hitting you up to get the pair of lifters you made for when I zero out my cams (again, when I get the money for everything )