Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: stevenwoody on 14 July 2011, 08:18:18

Title: Tensioner hell
Post by: stevenwoody on 14 July 2011, 08:18:18
i have 3.0 elite which i have got running nicely after it was laid up for 2 years, however on my to do list was a timing belt change. But yesterday jumped in it for my normal work commute when it developed a horrible noise form the front of the engine that noise soon developed into a misfire so after getting it home and stripping it down last night i found the o/s tensioner-idler had literally broken up there was only half the ball bearings there should have been and there is so much movement its scary. However it still ran up till when it was stripped with just the misfire and the noise to show there was anything wrong i have looked and it appears it has jumped a couple of teeth. What internal damage do you think there could be???  :-[
Title: Re: Tensioner hell
Post by: Jimbob on 14 July 2011, 08:20:18
sounds suspiciously like youve bent your valves  :'(

so heads off...replace valves, or but replacement heads and refit.

not a small job though
Title: Re: Tensioner hell
Post by: Bionic on 14 July 2011, 08:28:44
You might just be the luckiest man alive if you replace the belt and reset the timing then test the compressions.
If that does not bring it back to life and the heads still need to come off at least you will have already got a new belt and tensioner.
Its worth a try cos sometimes the good luck fairy smiles at us.
(no doubt someone will pick up on that phrase ;))
GudLuk though from us all......
 :y
Title: Re: Tensioner hell
Post by: Lazydocker on 14 July 2011, 09:01:56
If it's only jumped 2 teeth you may just be very lucky. As above, I'd get a new kit and stick it on, then do a compression test as that's the only way to know for sure :y

The fact it was still running does hint towards you being lucky, but there's no guarantee until you try
Title: Re: Tensioner hell
Post by: henryd on 14 July 2011, 10:18:54
also make sure you use the locking kit,its nigh on impossible to get the timing correct without one :y
Title: Re: Tensioner hell
Post by: Gaffers on 14 July 2011, 10:32:44
Quote
sounds suspiciously like youve bent your valves  :'(

so heads off...replace valves, or but replacement heads and refit.

not a small job though

It is not a small job as I can testify.  Before going down that route I would suggest new cambelt kit and tensioners fitted using a cambelt locking kit first.  Then if still running poor conduct a compression test.  If it is only 2 teeth then you may well have been very lucky, I have seen 2.5/3 teeth out still run so you never know.

Good luck  :y
Title: Re: Tensioner hell
Post by: stevenwoody on 14 July 2011, 11:21:59
thanks for the positives i just pray its ok, now next question anyone in kent got a locking tool i could borrow???
Title: Re: Tensioner hell
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 14 July 2011, 15:26:26
Just a thought - if you want to test it, without buying a new kit, I can send you a working lower idler, that you can use for testing purposes?

Will save you shelling out £100 or so for a kit and then finding the engine is screwed!
Title: Re: Tensioner hell
Post by: stevenwoody on 14 July 2011, 16:34:28
that is an idea but if there are bent valves then the lil beastie will be ripped apart and rebuilt probably over this weekend, ringing round all my trader mates to find this flaming tool lol
Title: Re: Tensioner hell
Post by: Nick W on 14 July 2011, 17:49:30
Quote
that is an idea but if there are bent valves then the lil beastie will be ripped apart and rebuilt probably over this weekend, ringing round all my trader mates to find this flaming tool lol


I've got one if it becomes desperate.
I'm in Chatham, so not too far!
Title: Re: Tensioner hell
Post by: stevenwoody on 15 July 2011, 08:46:00
thats handy to know!!!

now need a timing belt cover tho coz mine come apart in lots of bits
Title: Re: Tensioner hell
Post by: henryd on 15 July 2011, 09:09:02
Quote
thats handy to know!!!

now need a timing belt cover tho coz mine come apart in lots of bits

stick a wanted add in the test zone and ask one of the admins to move it to the correct area for you :y