Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

HI All,
I'm nearly halfway through changing the cambelt and balance belt on my 944 - but as expected, finding the crankshaft pulley bolt very difficult to remove (so far I have cracked one socket...)
I have read that the cambelt can be changed with the crank pulley in situ and wondered if anyone had successfully done this here?
It looks just about possible to do this - but not easy....
Any advice?

Cheers
Ian

Hi Ian, I think you may be ablke to get the belt on but it is always much easier to get the parts off. Have you got a flywheel lock? I will lend you mine and a deep 24mm impact socket if you are stuck,
Alasdair

HI

Thanks for the reply Alisdair.
I have got the flywheel lock on and engine at TDC as per guides, thanks
I looked for a 24mm impact socket in local halfrauds but they had none - so picked up a replacement deep 24 mm socket - just not sure if it will hold up.
If that does fail when I get my breaker bar and extension tube on it again - I may well come back to you to borrow your impact socket thanks!

BTW - how do you remove the spring tensioner (mines an 89 car)?
BBTW - is this job easier if I remove the fanmotor and shroud too?

Thanks
Ian

Hi Ian,
I recently changed the belts, rollers and tension wheels on my S and I didn't take the crank pulley off. However, I did take the fan and shroud off which made the job much easier. The tensioner is mounted on 3 bolts which you will need to be a contortionist to see, unless you use a mirror, they are not the 3 bolts you can see by looking from above. 2 are vertically in-line with the end of the spring, the third is hidden behind the timing belt tension roller, although I did get a socket on it.

Have you read the Clark's garage page on the internet? It gives a good guide and some useful pictures.

Thanks Mick - the penny drops about where the 3rd bolt is!
I'll try to remove the bolt, but if that fails will try to pass the cambelt around the pulley ...

Cheers
Ian

Don't rely on the spring tensioner getting the correct belt tension, they only get you in the ball park!
Alasdair

Hi All
Woo hoo! Got the crank bolt out today and pulled off the pulleys!
Removing the fan and shroud gave me plenty of clearance to work.
Thanks to all .
Ian

Great news. Belts are on my to-do list so will have to remember the fan trick.

I finished changing and tensioning the belts this afternoon. I found using a mirror very helpful to set the lower balance belt sprocket and see the nuts holding the spring tensioner in place. I found using the Krickit tensioning tool very easy to use too.
Very relieved when the engine fired first time and idled perfectly.
Just got a small oil leak from the oil filter to sort out
Thanks
Ian