Evening guys.
First questions.
When to change the belt, book says 140k but recommends 76k. Bit strange to say one thing and recommend another, mine is a 2007 with 86k on the clock.

Second question.
Do you have to remove the starter and lock the flywheel, i really don't mind removing it but the locking tool is nearly as much as a belt kit.

Tia

Hi Niffty,

Yes you have to remove the starter motor to lock the flywheel, it's an easy procedure few big bolts & an electrical connection.

With reference to the three tools required to do this job, I am happy to lend you mine & post them to you, as I did with Trev1

If you require the tools just drop me a PM with your address & I'll post them to you, then when you've finished just post them back to me.




Cheers
Brian

Which book are you referring to ?

IIRC recommendations changed when more powerful SD4 came along.
So the recommendation is now 7 years or sooner depending upon mileage (cant recall what that limit is at the moment). Mine has only done 44K miles (2014 plate) so age is the factor for me and its due next year.

IFAIK the starter has to come off to allow the locking plate to jam the starter ring, once the timing has been set by the pin, so that torque can be applied to the crankshaft. I doubt the timing pin alone is strong enough to do that, but I may be wrong.

Yes, the tool is not cheap but you can sell it on ebay afterwards.
Anyway you're still saving £100s by DIY (unless you mess it up)  Jules

Take the front bumper off as well. makes access a lot easier.  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

If the OP had conduct a 'Search', we wouldn't need this thread.

Sometimes people require a bit of technical help.
Its better than some of the 'Facebook' type dribble that's often posted.  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

Niffty wrote:

Evening guys.
First questions.
When to change the belt, book says 140k but recommends 76k. Bit strange to say one thing and recommend another, mine is a 2007 with 86k on the clock.

Second question.
Do you have to remove the starter and lock the flywheel, i really don't mind removing it but the locking tool is nearly as much as a belt kit.

Tia

I also change the front crankshaft and camshaft seals. No much cost and takes an extra say 10 minutes and that is doing them slow.

Thankyou gasman
Sometimes it is better to ask and learn than read a load of second hand dribble.

As for 3landertwo thankyou for your comment, im glad the thread prompted you to answer. shame it wasn't positive or use full.

Cherokee. thanks for the offer, i am going to buy the tool as it appears its the same tool for the wife's Mondeo, really appreciate
the offer though.

In general guys, thanks for the positive help and advice. ordered the kit through work and that looks like my xmas week escape from jobs indoors.

PS. Whats an OP

Original poster.

Hi Niffty
Just a small tip that you might find useful.
When you have to turn the the engine from the crankshaft pully bolt you will have to use an extension bar on your socket. This makes it a bit difficult. When I did mine I used an axel stand under the extension bar near the ratchet handle for support.

Hope all goes well, just take your time  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

Niffty wrote:

Thankyou gasman


As for 3landertwo thankyou for your comment, im glad the thread prompted you to answer. shame it wasn't positive or use full.

Be careful which locking tool kit you buy. I bought this one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143196631205?ul_noapp=true

The tooth which engages with the flywheel sheared off on first use. Managed to recover the tooth and weld the tooth back on and made the whole thing much beefier and stronger. However, the heat from the mig obviously weakened the whole locking peg, so much so that it fractured along the line of the locking bolt when I tried to use it a second time.

I resorted to the old method of a low gear and the wife stood on the brakes..............not ideal, but not many options under the circumstances!

The seller gave me a full refund and said it was the first time anyone had complained of the issue..............

I guess you get what you pay for. Mine was £19.99, others are way more than that.

I found it easier to locate the timing pin in the flywheel first, then the pin in the cam shaft sprocket second. Much harder the other way round................it shouldn't make a difference.............but it did !

Good luck