Could have been very expensive

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adrianclifford
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Could have been very expensive

Post by adrianclifford » Wed Apr 15, 2015 6:28 pm

As some of you know, Pearl, our TF was absent from Brooklands on Sunday, the first one she's missed, why ?

It went to our local MG Specialist British Legends in Southend on Tuesday for annual service, Stage 1 conversion and MoT, Steve is very thorough I'm pleased to say, look what he found on the three year old cam belt :

Image

It was cracked the whole way round, bend it, as if it were wrapped around the tensioner and you could see daylight through it. Every crack you can see showed daylight and it was cracked approximately every inch round the whole circumference.

It was well within the mileage range too and one year short of needing the scheduled change, I doubt it would have lasted that long.

The result was that it was replaced free of charge along with the tensioner :thumbsu:

Check your cam belt or get your garage to do it regardless of age.
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willyphixitt
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by willyphixitt » Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:15 pm

Hi Adrian,

You had a lucky escape! That belt is frightening. Kiss the engine goodbye if that had bust.

willyphixitt
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colintf
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by colintf » Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:27 pm

That is frightening Adrian ( and not how I pictured it in my mind from your description, so sorry Steffi and Pete, as I described it wrong to you both)

Scary really, as you had a long drive to Holland and back not long ago :o

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Neil Rushton
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by Neil Rushton » Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:45 pm

You was lucky there Adrian!!!
& you've reminded me that's ours wants servicing!!
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by Pete & Lin » Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:57 pm

Really lucky there Adrian,
colintf wrote:That is frightening Adrian ( and not how I pictured it in my mind from your description, so sorry Steffi and Pete, as I described it wrong to you both)

Scary really, as you had a long drive to Holland and back not long ago :o
No worries there Col., it's just as scary as you described :o
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Geoff.F
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by Geoff.F » Wed Apr 15, 2015 11:03 pm

The question is, who was the cambelt supplier ??? It must be one to be avoided.

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talkingcars
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by talkingcars » Wed Apr 15, 2015 11:09 pm

Nasty, how many miles has it done?
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by Plezier » Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:57 am

Cannot say that I have honestly seen a belt go like that before.

Did you buy a lottery ticket? ...................................... Lucky indeed.
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colintf
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by colintf » Thu Apr 16, 2015 11:11 am

I wonder how old the belt actually was - no doubt the material has a shelf life 8-)

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stuart
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by stuart » Thu Apr 16, 2015 11:38 am

Crikey!

That's got to be a bad manufacturing batch or summink- either way very pleased and very lucky that catastrophe was avoided
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adrianclifford
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by adrianclifford » Thu Apr 16, 2015 5:30 pm

It was a British supplied belt, Steve would not buy anything cheap from, say, China. It had FAI on it (something Automotive Industry) and comes in a package that he uses, it contains the belt, tensioner and water pump. Mileage circa 25,000 so one year and 23,000 miles of expected life left (using the four year/48,000 mile theory).
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colintf
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by colintf » Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:09 pm

adrianclifford wrote:It was a British supplied belt, Steve would not buy anything cheap from, say, China. It had FAI on it (something Automotive Industry) and comes in a package that he uses, it contains the belt, tensioner and water pump. Mileage circa 25,000 so one year and 23,000 miles of expected life left (using the four year/48,000 mile theory).
Fully respect Steve, but I wonder just how old the belt was supplied in the kit that was supplied to Steve ? 8-)

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Mykel
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by Mykel » Fri Apr 17, 2015 7:07 am

This is scary! FAI is a well respected brand, I have use their head gasket kits for years without problems. I have never ever seen a cam belt disintegrated like that before, for rubber to crack like that we would be talking a product age of 12+ years, I guess. With so many K-series engines still around, I doubt that there will be a shelf life like that. The belts I get delivered (Unipart) never are older than about a year.

To me this seriously looks like a bad rubber composition. It might be a wise idea to contact one of these guys, but probably Steve will already have done that.
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adrianclifford
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by adrianclifford » Fri Apr 17, 2015 7:51 am

Michael, I know Steve has done that and he's waiting for a result, that's why he's still got the belt and tensioner.
Bilstein shocks, Piper 4-2-1 manifold, Daytona, Vader cold-air induction, custom Z and F Stage 2 re-map, Electric boot release, braided hoses, Blue Magnecor leads, Technozen relays, Stage 1 head, BMW Angel Eyes headlights, "MG" puddle lights.
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Geoff.F
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by Geoff.F » Fri Apr 17, 2015 9:45 am

As FAI appear to be a Parts Distributor for many makes of cars then with the FAI Markings, it may well be an aftermarket belt made for them.
If you have one of these parts then be aware that there will be more than one faulty belt in the batch so have yours checked or replaced.
I have been and always will be an advocate for fitting original parts from an approved source. This is of course a legal requirement in many European countries with fake parts only available in UK.
Geoff F.
Edit. What belt did you have fitted to replace the failed one ??
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Dozers Dad
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Re: Could have been very expensive

Post by Dozers Dad » Sat Apr 18, 2015 2:35 pm

Very lucky indeed Adrian!

I've just bought a Gates timing belt/tensioner, water pump kit. It was more expensive than the other makes on offer. However Gates used to have an awesome reputation years ago. I just hope that is still the case today? ;)
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