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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Fanbelt

Chaps

Fanbelt looks a little tired, so time for a replacement. However, and with regard to the attached photo, I am struggling manfully to fit the new one. Clearly it must pass through the gap twixt crankshaft pulley and hard water pipe/cross member just visible beneath the pipe.

What looks like a balance weight of some sorts is fixed to the pulley. I cannot see any way of removing this, and despite loosening the L/R engine front mounting bolts, I cannot pry the engine rearwards to gain sufficient clearance to thread the belt through.

Fenner do a twist belt which may be split - but they are a costly and probably only temporary.

Any other clues gratefully received!


Mark O

Can you loosen the mounting bolts for the pipe and move that, at all?
Dave O'Neill 2

Dave

I could but it is the welded cross member beneath it - just visible in the photo - that causes the tight clearance rather than the pipe.
Mark O

the balance weight is all part of the pulley, not separate. In normal installation there is sufficient room to pass the belt in and out, your engine for whatever reason is a bit too far forward. You should be able to shift it back far enough by using a big crowbar between the pulley and crossmember.
David Smith

Mark,

Mine is tight but I can just get a belt on - how old are your engine mounts ?

If the engine won't go back can you jack it up a bit (slacken off engine mounts etc) to gain clearance.

R.
richard boobier

It is not a " balance weight of some sorts" it is a harmonic balancer!
As should be fitted to a 1275 ( and to anny A series if you have the chance)

Though the balancer it self wil not give you more power it will reduce vibrations and reduce wear.
Onno K

Id think loosen the mountings and use a piece of wood under the oil pan and jack it up ... but just a bit... maybe an inch and as said above use a crow bar or a wooden wedge to slip the engine back a bit

I wonder if the mounts are backwards...I cant remeber if they are handed or not

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

If all else fails, try vaseline and stockings..
Daniel Stapleton

I notice the vehicle profile shows a type 9 fitted so I wonder if the fitting kit has pushed the engine forward in some way. As has been mentioned if the engine can't be shifted back then it may be necessary to undo the engine mounts and jack the front of the engine to get clearance for the belt.
David Billington

Mark,
I have this problem with my type 9 installation and fairly recently fitted a new belt

this time I just cleaned the cross member area and just used a large long shanked screwdriver to force the belt passed, worked quite easily

but previously, and this may work better in colder weather, I prepared the new belt by warming it up in the oven and fitting before it cooled too much useing a large long shanked screwdriver

a mechanic had the idea to cable tie a spare belt across the front cross member so that it sit below and above the bottom pulley ready for use in an emergency

Nigel Atkins

Push the belt in between pipe and pulley (OK, Harmonic Balancer) as far as it will go and then short across the solenoid terminals to spin the starter, without turning on the ignition. Or disconnect the coil and then flip the ignition key. The quick spin of the engine will drag the belt through the tight gap.
Guy W

that reminds me of the VW Bettle fan belt change whilst the engine is running using just a long screwdriver

I know if I tried that I'd fail and probably end up injuring myself and damaging the car, same with just turning the engine over on the midget I'd have the belt bouncing off the ground or bonnet no matter how shorter time I have the engine turning
Nigel Atkins

Nigel,

That one occurred to me as well and is or was on youtube . Looks dangerous and likely is unless you get it right. Best use a remote and keep the attractive assistant at a safe distance.
David Billington

I remember the VW bug video... hey, thats why god gave us 8 extra fingers

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

You mean this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQhfcdQf1QA




Lawrence Slater

Yepp .... thats the video.

Im sure it looks much easier then then it really is, I sure wouldnt try it.

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Gents

Many thanks for these comments. Have to say I am not particularly in favour of forcing the thing through with any implement - danger of nicking the belt and weakening it.

However, I have to say there is much gunk on the cross member and yes, warming it up may indeed make matters easier.

Guy's suggestion is deeply tempting, but I will try cleaning it all off, warming it through and giving it a good yank first.....

Cheers

Mark
Mark O

It might also slide through more easily if you were to wrap a plastic bag around it. After all, fan belts are designed to be grippy.
Dave O'Neill 2

a large screwdriver with a large blunt head won't do damage as you can push on the compressed points of the belt's ribs, the belts are pretty study anyway

I was surprised last fitting how little effort it took to get the belt through the gap on mine

Dave's tip of using plastic sounds good too

good luck
Nigel Atkins

My car has a T9 box and also has a very narrow clearance for fitting a new belt. I have done it two or three times using "Guy's method" like that now. It doesn't seem to damage or mark the belt at all. Whereas I remember when I tried first time using an old style flat ended tyre lever I ended up nicking the edge of the belt.

You do still jam the belt into the gap quite tightly - either just with your fingers or use something like the rounded end of a paintbrush handle. If its not in firmly enough, when you click the starter it just spits it out again.
Guy W

Guy

More deeply tempting still! Many thanks. I note you are in Cumbria..I used to live near Cockermouth and know the area quite well. Chap called Neil McGurk - I think - sometimes of this parish and keen Jag enthusiast also used to be an excellent source of such helpful tips....Once had a ride in his immaculate Mk2 3.8...desire does not come close...

Mark
Mark O

Hi
Try jamming the belt in there as far as possible and then stick the car in top gear and just nudge the car along by pushing and the belt will wind it's way in.
If you can find a helper to help hold the belt in the right direction and for nudging that would help OR a slight downhill grade
willy
William Revit

Hi Willy,
That is a gentler and more controlled method of the same principle. I like that !

Mark, l am in south Cumbria, near Kendal. But l like the NW Lakes area with its more dramatic fells. But l am not sure it was a good idea to mention Cockermouth - what will Prop make of that !
Guy W

Guy

Aha...My wife hails from those parts.....Yes Cockermouth an endless source of gags, and interestingly, one of the few places ending in "mouth" which is not by the sea....
Mark O

William

I second Guy's comment. Interestingly, this is the method I use for setting valve clearances - by sticking it in top, grabbing the front wheel and rotating, thereby moving the rockers with some precision.

Clearly the neurons in my brain failed to make the connection with using the same method for winding the fan belt on......
Mark O

William, Mark and Guy are on to something all right. I bet it would work.
Never thought of setting tappet clearances this way but I'll give it a go next time. Thanks, Mark.
I do use the same tactic for setting the points tho'. It's dead easy.
RS Hughes

This thread was discussed between 31/12/2014 and 07/01/2015

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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