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Presented in partnership |
Because timing
is everything . . .
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Hidden deep in many engines is a mixed blessing called a timing belt.
What you see in the photo is a new timing belt and the half-width remains of the original timing belt that came apart because of a minor oil leak. Those black needles are the rubber-coated glass-fiber strands that stripped off the belt as it was eaten by the oil.
It’s worth taking the time to see if you have engines that use timing belts, then inspecting them as recommended by the equipment maker — especially if you have some “interference”
engines.
On the machine in question, it would have taken an hour to check the timing belt. But we all get busy. The hour “saved” was nothing compared to the time spent after the engine quit at exactly the wrong time on a very busy day.
The normal four-hour job to replace the timing belt stretched to eight hours. Extra time was spent cleaning out all the abrasive glass fibers that posed a threat to the new timing belt and all the sprockets, seals and bearings. Replacing the leaky crankshaft oil seal took an extra five minutes and an extra $10 in parts.
The seal only leaked when the engine was running, leaving a seemingly harmless mist of oil on the front of the engine. Oil consumption was not significant, especially after 15 years of everyday use.
Back in the old days, engines used a steel chain or gears to carry power from the crankshaft to the camshaft to open and close the valves in time with the piston. But metal chains stretch and gears get sloppy, throwing off the precise valve-piston timing needed to maximize efficiency and minimize emissions. Timing belts don’t stretch. Replacing the old chains required removing the oil pan and the front engine cover, a major bit of engine surgery. Timing belts are mounted outside the engine block and are much easier to replace.
A broken belt can seriously damage or destroy an “interference” engine, where the valves use the same upper-cylinder space as the pistons. The timing belt keeps them out of each other’s way. If the belt breaks, the moving pistons can smash into the stopped valves. Adios, engine.
Our problem child was not an interference engine, so after a long day, the machine was back in service. And you can bet we took the time to check out the other engines in the fleet.
A new drum containment unit from UltraTech International Inc. features a roll-top cover for safe storage. The Ultra-HardTop P1 Plus provides head space for use with drum pumps or conical funnels. Waste or pump fluids can be emptied by lifting the cover from the waist level. All-polyethylene construction will not rust or corrode, the company says. This unit’s 64-gallon capacity meets EPA container storage regulations. Contact UltraTech International Inc., 800-764-9563 (www.spillcontainment.com). The 2006/07 Edition Deere Performance Handbook and accompanying CD-ROM is now available from John Deere Construction & Forestry Co. The handbook includes equipment specifications, owning and operating cost formulas and production estimators. Revised each year to add new products and update equipment specs, the handbook with CD is available at any John Deere dealer. Contact John Deere Construction & Forestry Co., 800-503-3373 (www.johndeere.com). |
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