The cambelt fell off my Libero on Xmas eve.We have decided to fix it rather than replace it, however my mechanic is in Whangarei (we are near Timaru) and has asked me to pull off the head to check how much damage there is.I managed to get the head off myself (so proud being a female lol) and all the valves on the inlet side are very obviously bent, the exhaust side look ok, but I'm not too sure.The pistons have tiny gouges like fingernail scratches on them, are they ok or need replacing too!
mechnificent,
Jan 23, 2:47pm
Probaly ok, but a photo might help. Take them from a low angle se we can see how deep the dents are and we might be able to make a educated guess, but that is all it will be. Photos of the valves might be good too thanks.
skin1235,
Jan 23, 2:51pm
if they are flat across the top and have no machined grooves in them they may be okay, your mechanic will tell you how to check for out of roundness without removing them from the car, if they prove to be still round he'd probable say just have the head checked for alignments of the guides etc and refit new valves done then fit it all back together the head should also be crack tested in particular around the cam pedestals then you have the issue of the cambelt - did it fall off or did it break, and why did it do either, to replace the belt will also mean replacing idlers and probably the water pump as well, big job but if you can get the head off you have some skills and maybe able to do the refit yourself or at least strip it down as far as needed and save someone else from skinning his knuckles doing that part of the job lol
franc123,
Jan 23, 2:52pm
probably yes.Turn the crank over by hand and check that all the pistons come up to exactly the same height when it reaches the highest point (referred to as Top Dead Centre)You can check this by putting a ruler across it.Given the valve stems are pretty skinny they would have done all the bending no doubt.
phillip.weston,
Jan 23, 5:26pm
yeah they will be fine, thankfully it has got away with just small indents on the pistons rather than shattering them or having the valve head(s) snapped off and embedded in the piston crowns. Also good work with pulling the head off, if you find another head on trademe I'm sure you'll be able to put it back on yourself too.
1grasshopper,
Jan 23, 8:07pm
Thanks guys - I'll post up some pics in the light tomorrow.I am flying my mechanic friend down in the next couple of weeks once I have all the parts here as I'm not confident in putting it back together properly (dont want to bend more valves) but I will be getting him to show me exactly how its done so Ican do more next time :) I have probably taken off more bolts than was necessary but oh well lol
mechnificent,
Jan 23, 8:10pm
Go Grasshopper. that's the attitude.
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 23, 8:33pm
+1 Well done!
jono2912,
Jan 26, 8:51pm
Good on ya
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