Bongo Fury

Hi all

I have a lovely converted M plate bongo by Westwood, so I am assuming that the cam belt was changed by them on import at about 60,000 miles I believe

I am up to 100,000 miles (160000km) and was wondering if any of you kind peeps can tell me when another change is due, as I found it expensively empbarrasing when a belt went on a previous vehicle and want to apply the addage of prevention better than cure

Cheers all

Serge

I suppose it is down to you really, what condition is it in at the moment, does it look like it needs changing, remember the old saying " if it aint broke don't fix it"...but...if it's in your mind you will not forget it,lol, so your choice you probably will not be happy till it's changed,lol.

Well with the cam belt if it's broke ... it's a bit to late to fixit ..!!

serge wrote:Hi all

I have a lovely converted M plate bongo by Westwood, so I am assuming that the cam belt was changed by them on import at about 60,000 miles I believe
I am up to 100,000 miles (160000km) and was wondering if any of you kind peeps can tell me when another change is due, as I found it expensively empbarrasing when a belt went on a previous vehicle and want to apply the addage of prevention better than cure

Cheers all

Serge

Hi Serge,

You dont want it to break Change it ASAP.

Not in any way implying anything about any supplier, but I would only be totally happy if I either saw it being done or a witness swore an affidavit before a notary!

I was told " They all have the cambelt done when they arrive in the UK" to which my reaction, which I kept to myself, was "Believe it if I see it". having seen subsequently that it's not a five minute job, I'm even less inclined to believe it.

How many times have we looked at a car on a dealer's forecourt and been told " It will have a full service before you collect it"?


Frank

Cambelts should be changed every 100,000 Kilometres or 62,137 Miles.

I am of the same opinion as Diplomat, change it for peace of mind.

When I had my Petrol 2.4 16v DOHC Emina I had the receipt for a full service dated from the day before I collect her from Manchester ..

Being the sceptic I am I checked her over as soon as I got back home to Walsall after driving down the M6..

Various things like new but low oil on the dipstick ... and taking off the air filter cover .. I swear the insects stuck on the element where Japanese..!!

Maybe luckily ... I have chain driven cams and don't have cam belt ..

With the bongo i set myself a 50,000 mile or 3 year cambelt change schedule, merely as my own "rule of thumb/play it safe" guide.

Hhave just had some body work done by Ian Taylor in Stoke on Trent & brought up the cam belt change scenario for 2.5 diesel, as dire warnings of failure scared s..t out of me, can anyone confirm that the cam belt drive is only for the diesel pump & that the main drive is by chain as in most diesel engines. OK if the diesel pump cambelt fails it means you are stranded but apparently its not a serious engine failure, please enlighten the rest of us terrified bongonauts.

bikerbob wrote:Hhave just had some body work done by Ian Taylor in Stoke on Trent & brought up the cam belt change scenario for 2.5 diesel, as dire warnings of failure scared s..t out of me, can anyone confirm that the cam belt drive is only for the diesel pump & that the main drive is by chain as in most diesel engines. OK if the diesel pump cambelt fails it means you are stranded but apparently its not a serious engine failure, please enlighten the rest of us terrified bongonauts.

Sadly, you will have to remain terrified on this one!


Frank

Hi bikerbob,

The wlt 2.5 diesel engine has a gear drive from the crankshaft to the fuel injector pump.Then the cam belt from the fuel injector pump (pulley)to the cam shaft(pulley).Owing to the fact that it is an interference type engine.if the belt snaps it Could seriously damage the engine.

Cheers.

thanks guys,it looks like have been given duff info although Ian Taylor sounded convincing in his advice.

bikerbob wrote:thanks guys,it looks like have been given duff info although Ian Taylor sounded convincing in his advice.

I doubt that Ian, with all his long experience of Bongos, would have given you duff advice. Is it possible you have misunderstood what he was saying? Just a thought.

bigdaddycain wrote:With the bongo i set myself a 50,000 mile or 3 year cambelt change schedule, merely as my own "rule of thumb/play it safe" guide.

I agree Ste. And if in doubt, chuck it out, would be my advice esp. as its only 10k or so off needing doing anyway.

I agree Ian has years of experience with Bongo`s however I am positive I did not misunderstand what he said that the timing belt only runs the diesel pump & that Bongo owners were being unnecessary paranoid about this issue, perhaps Ian could defend himself on this issue as info seams to be conflicting, by the way Ian did a superb job on Fuzzie Ducks rear wheel arches & other items .