leave timing belt cover off?

im getting a used escort and want to change the timing belt,
preventatively. its non-interference.

is there any reason why the belt cover *has* to be on?

someone has brought up the alt/ac/etc belt being uncovered as evidence
that it'll work ok.

id like to leave it off, becuase its such a freaking pain in the neck
to get on and off. and ill likely break it anyway

curious,
anthony

ant > wrote in article
.com>...
> im getting a used escort and want to change the timing belt,
> preventatively. its non-interference.
>
> is there any reason why the belt cover *has* to be on?
>
> someone has brought up the alt/ac/etc belt being uncovered as evidence
> that it'll work ok.
>
> id like to leave it off, becuase its such a freaking pain in the neck
> to get on and off. and ill likely break it anyway
>
> curious,
> anthony
>
>


A small stone between the alternator belt and its pulley is a
nuisance......

A small stone between a timing belt and its sprocket could mean a MAJOR
repair.....

would you like a door on your car if you got hit on that side or not
???
what a pain in the ass to open and close a door ?

well that sums it up

On 11 Jul 2005 14:25:23 -0700, "ant" >
wrote:

>im getting a used escort and want to change the timing belt,
>preventatively. its non-interference.
>
>is there any reason why the belt cover *has* to be on?
>
>someone has brought up the alt/ac/etc belt being uncovered as evidence
>that it'll work ok.
>
>id like to leave it off, becuase its such a freaking pain in the neck
>to get on and off. and ill likely break it anyway
>
>curious,
>anthony

One bit of debris in the cam(s) could mean a broken belt (at best!) or
a wasted cam (or cams, if DOHC)

Put the cover back on it.

-LMB

I'd think you'd be changing the belt more often with it off versus keeping
the belt free of gunk with the cover on. Those other exposed belts don't
have crucial precise teeth which need to be kept clean. If your AC belt
blows, you won't necessarily be stranded.
my .02

"ant" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> im getting a used escort and want to change the timing belt,
> preventatively. its non-interference.
>
> is there any reason why the belt cover *has* to be on?
>
> someone has brought up the alt/ac/etc belt being uncovered as evidence
> that it'll work ok.
>
> id like to leave it off, becuase its such a freaking pain in the neck
> to get on and off. and ill likely break it anyway
>
> curious,
> anthony
>

Jim Vatunz wrote:

> On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 16:42:01 -0500, "*" > wrote:
>
>
>>
>>ant > wrote in article
ps.com>...
>>
>>>im getting a used escort and want to change the timing belt,
>>>preventatively. its non-interference.
>>>
>>>is there any reason why the belt cover *has* to be on?
>>>
>>>someone has brought up the alt/ac/etc belt being uncovered as evidence
>>>that it'll work ok.
>>>
>>>id like to leave it off, becuase its such a freaking pain in the neck
>>>to get on and off. and ill likely break it anyway
>>>
>>>curious,
>>>anthony
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>A small stone between the alternator belt and its pulley is a
>>nuisance......
>>
>>A small stone between a timing belt and its sprocket could mean a MAJOR
>>repair.....
>>
>
> He just said it's a non-interference engine so that eliminates the
> major repair scenario.
> I did it years ago on one of my old cars with no dramas. Sure it keeps
> dust out, cuts down noise and the worry of poking a finger in there
> but not having it on makes it dead simple to inspect for wear or
> replace.
> I don't remember having any dramas at all from leaving it off.
> Ask some of those riders of those lumbering USA built motorcycles if
> they've ever caught a rock in the belt. It'd be somewhat more unusual
> to have one fly into the timing belt area i'd imagine.
>
> --
> http://members.iinet.net.au/~farmerjim/log/log.html
> It's boring but it's something.
Jeez, dropped an aircleaner nut down a Renault carb once.
That was drama.
Passed the valve nice as you please and locked it up. On start.
Mister magnet through the sparkplug hole fixed it though.
New underwear for me. he he

I don't know if it applies to the Escort. What I did with a Vega is cut
the cover so it could be installed in two pieces. That saved removal
time and also allowed me to pull the cover back to inspect for belt
wear. The belt was still protected from debris.

The timing belt cover on my Festiva comes in two pieces.
I've removed the top half to look at the belt.

"Al Bundy" ) writes:
> I don't know if it applies to the Escort. What I did with a Vega is cut
> the cover so it could be installed in two pieces. That saved removal
> time and also allowed me to pull the cover back to inspect for belt
> wear. The belt was still protected from debris.
>


--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network
homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm
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I drove a car like that once. I hit a ridge of snow from someone
shoveling their driveway and the belt blew off.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

ant wrote:
>
> im getting a used escort and want to change the timing belt,
> preventatively. its non-interference.
>
> is there any reason why the belt cover *has* to be on?
>
> someone has brought up the alt/ac/etc belt being uncovered as evidence
> that it'll work ok.
>
> id like to leave it off, becuase its such a freaking pain in the neck
> to get on and off. and ill likely break it anyway
>
> curious,
> anthony

"Jim Vatunz" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 16:42:01 -0500, "*" > wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >ant > wrote in article
> s.com>...
> >> im getting a used escort and want to change the timing belt,
> >> preventatively. its non-interference.
> >>
> >> is there any reason why the belt cover *has* to be on?
> >>
> >> someone has brought up the alt/ac/etc belt being uncovered as
evidence
> >> that it'll work ok.
> >>
> >> id like to leave it off, becuase its such a freaking pain in the
neck
> >> to get on and off. and ill likely break it anyway
> >>
> >> curious,
> >> anthony
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >A small stone between the alternator belt and its pulley is a
> >nuisance......
> >
> >A small stone between a timing belt and its sprocket could mean a
MAJOR
> >repair.....
> >
> He just said it's a non-interference engine so that eliminates the
> major repair scenario.
> I did it years ago on one of my old cars with no dramas. Sure it keeps
> dust out, cuts down noise and the worry of poking a finger in there
> but not having it on makes it dead simple to inspect for wear or
> replace.
> I don't remember having any dramas at all from leaving it off.
> Ask some of those riders of those lumbering USA built motorcycles if
> they've ever caught a rock in the belt. It'd be somewhat more unusual
> to have one fly into the timing belt area i'd imagine.
>
> --
>
Actually that IS a big problem on hogs. That is why most have belt
guards and still have problems.

REAL stupid to leave the cover off over a timing belt. Only takes one
pebble or a finger to show you that.



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