Continental Belt Tracking to Inside Edge of Cam Gears. How Can I Center It??

777funk · Post by **777funk** » 31 Jan 2025, 05:02

It's right at the inside edge of gears and that edge is getting slightly fuzzy. There's no wobble of the belt. There is a small wobble of the tensioner indicator (maybe 1/8").

Post by **BlackBart** » 31 Jan 2025, 11:26

Good question - I’ve wondered about tracking on the cam wheels. I have my upper front cover off so I can watch them.

Interested in responses you get.

dikidera · Post by **dikidera** » 31 Jan 2025, 12:37

I personally didn't. I don't think it's a belt issue, but Continental belts have been known to get tears prematurely. It was a big issue on Volvos over here. Usually it was the serpentine Conti belts that would rip, get underneath the timing belt and it was mayhem. It was later reported that the timing belts suffered a similar, but less severe issue.

Post by **vtl** » 31 Jan 2025, 15:59

dikidera wrote: 31 Jan 2025, 12:37 I personally didn't. I don't think it's a belt issue, but Continental belts have been known to get tears prematurely. It was a big issue on Volvos over here. Usually it was the serpentine Conti belts that would rip, get underneath the timing belt and it was mayhem. It was later reported that the timing belts suffered a similar, but less severe issue.

Yup, happened to me. Serpentine belt shredded. Luckily t-belt only jumped one tooth, so engine survived. Volvo blue box belts exclusively since then.

dikidera · Post by **dikidera** » 31 Jan 2025, 16:00

You were very lucky. There have been multiple volvos over here being sold for parts or people looking for heads because theirs were thrashed.

Post by **vtl** » 31 Jan 2025, 16:03

dikidera wrote: 31 Jan 2025, 16:00 You were very lucky. There have been multiple volvos over here being sold for parts or people looking for heads because theirs were thrashed.

Conti killed my PS pump. Paid like $400 for new one. Got the right size belt, but it was so tight to fit that it stressed the PS pump bearings and started grinding. These belts don't stretch at all, unlike OE / Gates belts.

Post by **jonesg** » 31 Jan 2025, 16:40

my timing belt was tracking 1/8 inch, the tensioner was also deflecting a bit at idle.
It turned out the 32mm crank retaining pulley nut went awol.
I had to replace the crank pulley too as the splines were gnarled up by the wobbling.
Almost lost the engine.

Check all your pulleys, remove the wheel and make sure the crank nut is good.
I would pull the belt and feel all the pulleys for slop. VVT hubs too.