Balance belt fell off

[nick.falconer]

Hi,

I drive a 89 2.5TD Pajero, yesterday I felt the engine vibrating a lot more than normal so I took the cover off the cam-belt and found that the balance belt was extremely loose. First I thought it was broken but I couldn't pull it out so I have stripped down the front and found it is intact but it wasn't sitting on the tensioner. I'm going to replace the belt as it came in contact with some oil when it came off.

What I would like to know is why this happened, all the belts and tensioners were done about 25,000km ago so they are still fairly new, the tensioner on the balance belt feels stiffer and harder to spin than the one for the cam-belt, could it be faulty and needs to be replaced? When it was done last I used after market parts so this time I think I will go with genuine just to safe.

Thanks
Nick

[kbushnz]

Is the balance shaft turning freely...??
I have heard stories that these can seize up....

Calvin

[nick.falconer]

Both shafts seem to spin freely, its just the tensioner that seems a bit stiff.

[Bolo]

When i owned my old pajero. i also did a tensioner , my one fell to pieces . i simply replaced it , then never had a problem after that

[nick.falconer]

I've gone and ordered a new cam-belt, balance belt and tensioner, this time they will be genuine parts. Hopefully will get them on Tuesday and fit them during the week.

[NJV6]

You are very lucky. Usually the wee balance belt breaks and takes the perfectly good cam belt with it and breaks stuff!

[nick.falconer]

Yea I know, I probably drove about 60km with it like that, I am very lucky the cam-belt wasn't affected.