VIDEO: Timing Belt Walking?

Volvebaker · Post by **Volvebaker** » 08 May 2022, 11:33

Hello again, Volvo friends!

I did the timing belt (and related pieces save for water pump, which was done the previous timing job) on my 1993 850. I have never done this job before and I never looked at the belt, how it was sitting, or how it ran i.e. if it moved at all prior to my doing this job.

I took my time and believe I did everything correctly. I was, however, a little concerned it seemed to be sitting a little close to the engine and I wished I had took better note of how it was prior to the undertaking. Though, I do have this photo I took at the start of the job where it appears it always rode closer to the engine side:

: 10C4B471-D070-4751-94C5-02505EAC9048.jpeg (742.58 KiB) Viewed 936 times

So, I am no long as concerned about this issue. However, I am a little concerned about what I saw when I took the cover off again today and actually watched it all running. The belt appears to be walking back and forth a little bit. I took a video that I think clearly shows this:

IMG_2356.MOV: (3.74 MiB) Downloaded 157 times

Is this at all normal? Is this something I should be concerned about? Or, if it’s not rubbing at all, despite the walking, is it no big deal?

Thanks everyone and I look forward to any knowledge you can provide!

Post by **manovlov** » 08 May 2022, 13:15

What's the type of belt, an OEM or a after market one ?

Volvebaker · Post by **Volvebaker** » 08 May 2022, 13:38

manovlov wrote: ↑08 May 2022, 13:15 What's the type of belt, an OEM or a after market one ?

OEM Continental from FCP along with new SKF tensioner pulley, INA idler, and Aisin tensioner.

Also, wanted to add I went out and did more studying of it. I haven’t taken the top cover off again just yet to watch it on the cams but it appears it is only walking on the idler pulley, the crank gear, and tensioner pulley. It does not appear to be moving on the water pump or cam gears from what I can tell with the cover still on.

Post by **scot850** » 08 May 2022, 14:35

There have been a few topics on this issue over the last year of belts walking. Maybe look for timing belt alignment threads.

Neil.

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 08 May 2022, 23:50

Mine moves around a little bit too. I used a Gates belt that came in an Aisin kit.... Aisin made the the original pump, and hydraulic tensioner. The tensioner pulley and idler are INA.

I've put several thousand miles on it, but I have not pulled the cover again to check on it, although, I intend to.

Volvebaker · Post by **Volvebaker** » 09 May 2022, 04:44

scot850 wrote: ↑08 May 2022, 14:35 There have been a few topics on this issue over the last year of belts walking. Maybe look for timing belt alignment threads.

Neil.

Thanks for the reply. I tried looking around with those terms but unfortunately haven’t been able to find much on an issue similar to this.

454cid wrote: ↑08 May 2022, 23:50 Mine moves around a little bit too. I used a Gates belt that came in an Aisin kit.... Aisin made the the original pump, and hydraulic tensioner. The tensioner pulley and idler are INA.

I've put several thousand miles on it, but I have not pulled the cover again to check on it, although, I intend to.

Thanks for your reply, as well. This is reaffirming to hear, I’ve seen other cases where it is walking back and forth much more dramatically than mine as well. So, I’m in hopes that, so long as it’s not rubbing, it’s not much to be concerned about, I hope. I will continue to keep an eye on it myself.