Timing Belt

#1

I am doing a timing belt, the belt would not go on the pully’s with both on the mark and is extremely tight…I had to force it on the cam pully with a plastic hammer. the tensioner has the spring almost fully compressed. I did 2 turns and there was not a loose spot on it, just seems like too much tension. the part # is 1 131 1 713 361 which is the correct # and it is a Conti Belt…I have done about a dozen and this is the first time I have run into this. The marks are off by just a hair…

Ideas?

Al

#2

I’d say to get another belt & tensioner and try them. I’ve seen a case where the tensioner was the problem and a case where the belt was just not right.

#3

try the old tensioner first with the new belt to determine which of them may be the problem. You know that one is right.

#4

Yup

I called a supplier over in Raleigh and they had both in stock, I drive over there and the guy says he just sold the last tensioner…so I buy 2 belts, one of each brand, now I gotta dig through the scrap pile and find a tensioner…maybe one of these belts will work with my new tensioner but I doubt it, the belt was super tight with the tensioner pushed all the way in…I guess I have never seen a tensioner fail so I hope my old one works!

Al

#5

hey, you might have a 325e belt

#6

Yep, the early “e”'s and euro cars had a different belt/tooth design, most of the cars had been retrofitted with the correct pully’s, I got it squared away, I think the OE conti belts are a little tighter than the cheapo’s…

Al