Cambelt - two hours longer

[spout]

Well the fact sheet said three hours for fitting new cambelt, but it took me five.

Still pleased as punch with myself tho

I just took it nice and slow, one eye on the fact sheet.
Had a couple of problems though, firstly the wiring over the centre console didn't appear to have any connectors to break it, but by careful wriggling I managed to stretch it under the gearlever and far enough over to the drivers side to allow console removal.
The air intake pipe wouldn't come off the housing, so I wasted time trying to get the cambelt cover off with it still in place . Eventually I got the pipe off (I've the cut knuckles to prove it!).

So big thanks to the fact sheet and these forums

Paul

[Trouble at t'Mill]

That is excellent stuff, Spout - tackling this kind of task for the first time is a 'brave' thing to do.

The rewarding feeling afterwards is hard to beat, eh?!

I bet you could do it sub-2 hours next time.

Wanna try on mine...?

[mikeonb4c]

Excellent spout - well done. I'd love to try doing mine when the time comes, but fear my back is too dodgy to tackle something like that (can't 'do' bending over any more as I found to my cost when I tried to do O rings on my diesel pump ).

[spout]

can't 'do' bending over any more

Yes, I've woken up this morning with bruised shins and a distinctly unhappy lower back, to go with the grazed knuckles and scratched forearms

A relaxing afternoon in front of the telly awaits

Next on the list is a coolant change - I've a rusty coloured header tank Far scarier than a cambelt change

[mikeonb4c]

Next on the list is a coolant change - I've a rusty coloured header tank Far scarier than a cambelt change

Ah, I've done that one (and due to do it again before too long). It wasn't too bad though a 2nd person helping would have made mine a lot more relaxing as I had to rush to and fro filling up the header tank and preparing to 'bung' the bleed pipe.

I put a new thermostat on when I changed my coolant (kill two birds with one stone etc.) and time to get to operating temp halved. Worth considering as part of 'fettling and settling'.

If you have rusty water in the header tank, there is an increased risk I think of some crud in the system that may have reduced it's efficiency. Try and flowtest the radiator after backflushing to make sure it hasn't got gunged up.

And watch out for that back! I've had two episodes directly caused by my new Bongo life (camping, and DIY maintenance incidents) and have had to draw a line under energetic camping and any maintenance that involves bending over (no rude quips please you comedians out there )

I hope you are in front of the telly today. Its rubbish out there!