Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Timing belt replacement

Took a look at my engine timing belt the other day to track down a burning smell and saw numerous cracks on the outer rubber skin. This is a 2017 model with only about 1100 miles! S&S provided a replacement and I'm doing it myself since the nearest Morgan dealer is now hundreds of miles away. The S&S Dealer directory is coming up with only local shops that don't work on the x-wedge.

The old belt came off with no problem after I removed the two idler wheels and released the tensioner. However, putting the new one on is a challenge. To me it looks like the piñon shaft bolt and washer need to first be removed but S&S tech support says that this isn't necessary. I don't want to remove these if I don't have to. Any advice on fitting one of these would be greatly appreciated!

I replaced mine without any issues.

I only removed one idler puller, the one with the with the flange towards the front of the engine. Putting the belt back on is a bit tight just make sure the tensioner is fully released, a third hand helps I used a spanner and tied it off to a convenient point on the car.

You don't want to be undoing the pinion shaft bolt this is Locitited on as there have been a number of failures of these working loose.

This link has instructions for replacing camshafts and includes instructions for cam belt replacement.
https://assetcloud02.roccommerce.net/files/_sscycle/8/9/4/106-3982_easystartxwedge_20081202.pdf

Thanks Rog. Did you put some loctite blue on the idler bolt when you replaced it?

No I didn't use Loctite on the idler bolt.
I changed my cam belt 5,000 miles ago at 10,000 miles when I did the crank sprocket update.

A couple of months ago I had my belt changed at the car's 3k service. It had lots of cracks on the outside skin as JP describes above. It was sent back to Morgan at their request, presumably for further investigation or claim against S&S. Best get these belts checked regularly......
My M3W is a late 2016

Agree only removed the one idler pulley with the rib on the outside edge. Used my son to hold the tensioner and then refitted the pully.
Used loctite as per the S&S technical update.

Last year i had my 2015 3000 miles in at Beamish Morgan for a service and oil leak from front cover, they found my belt had cracks in it and said i was lucky it had'nt broken, it's odd that they are cracking at low mileage.

Sounds like heat maybe? Install spacers between cover and engine to lower belt temp.

my car already had the improved cover for air circulation.

After my timing belt blew up I replaced it as well as adding the spacers to the cover. Have been checking every 5,000 miles and still looks good. Its only four bolts and ten minutes to do so...