Disaster Narrowly Averted

[jerry920]

I retensioned my belts yesterday morning, put it all back together and took it for a spin. Running good, nice and quiet. I turn into the last 1/4 mile to my house and this horrendous squealing starts. No loss of oil pressure, no overheat, running fine, just a horrible squeal.

Got it home easy and opened up the timing covers this morning. That's where I started as that was where the sound was coming from.

WTH and S#$t where the first thing that came to mind when I saw what's pictured below.



Yep that's the idler bolt just laying there by the crank. The idler is clinging for dear life but didn't fall off. The bolt didn't take out anything, but did wear on the CB belt.

I guess my only question is how did this fall off? I can (almost) swear that I torqued it down. There is only one flat washer yes, that goes on the front? The bolt threads are a little dinged up but nothing serious. Before I put it all back together is there anything else I should look at?

[exitwound]

I have a late model but my idler bolt is far beefier than that one. You sure it's the right one? Or maybe it's just the angle of your picture....



Make sure you tighten down the two bolts that hold the back plastic cover on, the ones that go into the oil pump. If you forget, there's no way to tighten them with all the belts in place.

[jerry920]

This is my first and only Porsche 944, so I am afraid I don't know anything about different sized bolts. I could see from a parts listing on 944online that there was a roller size change in '86.

I just want to make sure I didn't forget something that caused it to fall off.

[exitwound]

Hmm. If it's the right bolt, then a torque down to the spec is all that should hold it in place.

So glad you found it though ahead of time!!

[jerry920]

I don't have a manual but I think it's 33 ft. lb. from the Arnnworx guide.

Think I'll use a little locktite this time too.

Thanks!

[SuperXRAY]

It is 33ft/lb torque. I believe the bolt is the right size, but you would have to measure it to make sure and compare to the manual. That is the correct idler roller, as you have the updated water pump (because it has the belt guide next to the water pump pulley). Be careful with the thread locker used...remember most everything is aluminum.

It looks like your timing belt is ok, but the balance belt is toast...at least I wouldn't run it that way. A careful inspection of the timing belt is in order though, or just replacement.

[mattdavis11]

Wow, talk about lucky. This serves as a good reminder not to upgrade the roller.

[jerry920]

I have already ordered a replacement CB belt. I turned the engine 4 or 5 full rotations by hand to inspect the TB. It looks like it didn't even touch it. Not a mark on it.

The Porsche Gods must have been feeling kind today.

Any other day the bolt, or washer or roller would have taken out both the CB and the TB. The washer was just laying in the bottom of the lower cover. I drove it another quarter mile home afterwards. Wow.

[nynor]

dude, there is a loose bolt floating around in there!

have you purchased a lottery ticket yet?

[jerry920]

Originally Posted by nynor

dude, there is a loose bolt floating around in there!

have you purchased a lottery ticket yet?

I should have! I'll have to replace the CB belt, but considering what could have happened...

[944Spec_bound]

I wonder what the horrendous squealing was though? If that bolt was just bouncing all around in there, I'd expect alot of rattling and banging, but if it was squealing it must have gotten pinched between a belt and something, hopefully not a roller or gear. From the looks of your balance belt, it was probably just wedged between the timing cover and the belt.
I'd be double sure the only damage was to the balance belt, and triple sure I torqued all the bolts.

I'd rather be lucky than smart.

[John_AZ]

The top photo. The BB looks too close to the WP pully. It could be the camera angle. The belt should be below the pully. The BB tensioning roller/pully is tensioned clockwise. The BB looks like it should be replaced as well-there are threads showing.



GL
John_AZ

[jerry920]

Originally Posted by John_AZ

The top photo. The BB looks too close to the WP pully. It could be the camera angle. The belt should be below the pully. The BB tensioning roller/pully is tensioned clockwise. The BB looks like it should be replaced as well-there are threads showing.


GL
John_AZ

Thanks John, yeah I have already order a new balance belt. Since I'll have it off i am replacing that idler too.

[rickharrison]

My guess is the squealing was from the idler rubbing the balance belt...actually keeping it from falling off.