Snapped Timing Belt

[Jon Green]

Hi All,

Tonight i was working on my 2B, doing some of those many final jobs before i put her back on the road.  It’s been laid up for 7 years.  I started her up a couple of weeks ago just to make sure all was okay and she ticked over nicely.

I thought I’d get her out of the garage tonight and turn her around to give better access to the side i have work to do on.   The engine cranked for about 15 seconds, sounding normal but not firing and then suddenly the engine cranking speed sped up.  I probably cranked it for another 15 seconds before i thought it really didn’t sound right.  I lifted the bonnet and saw that the timing belt had snapped and only the bottom of the engine was turning over.

As it never fired, will i have caused any damage to valves etc?  And also, strangely enough I’ve had a spare timing belt under my bed for the last 20 years, still in its box… do you think it’ll be okay to use?  Looks brand new still…

 

thanks,

Jon

[IanS]

The pinto as standard is a non contact engine but with a FR33 cam I do not know.

The sound of valves hitting pistons is like a bunch of twigs snapping.

As for damage you could just try fitting the new belt and seeing if it starts. if it does I would replace with a new one anyway.

Otherwise it is a head off job

[Jon Green]

Cheers Ian, my setup is back to standard cam as i found the FR33 cam very lumpy with a very narrow power band.  So with the standard cam in I shouldn’t have mashed anything! 

[Jon Green]

All running again!