HP belt replacement

mds141 · Post by **mds141** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:57 pm

Belt snapped coming back from Sainsbury's. Managed to get back home ok,ish no brakes for last 1/4 mile which was"interesting". Is belt replacment a big job, i imagine it's the same as doing an alternator belt. It's on a valver. Cheers in anticipation of advice/help. Mark.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:18 pm

Not had to do it myself but the main difference between pump and alternator is that I understand the belt tension needs to be MUCH higher.

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 7:34 pm

It isnt difficult undoing all the tensioning bolts, helps to have someone leaning on the pump whilst you do them up as the belt has to be taught.

Andy

Post by **docchevron** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 12:48 am

the valver has a fixed pump and a seperate tensioner.
If it's the right belt then no problem really, although feeding the belt betwixt the cam pulley and pump pulley is a bit tight.

Most replacement belts for valvers eem to be too short these days and they can be an utter bastard to fit, requiring removal of the tensioner altogether to get the belt over the pulley.
All in all though, a very simple job requiring a 13MM socket / spanner and a lever to tension it.

KevR · Post by **KevR** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:10 am

The only one we've had break went while my wife was in UK on her own. She changed it herself in a motorway services car park, so you shouldn't have too much trouble!

mds141 · Post by **mds141** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:18 pm

Thanks guys. Next question where do i get a belt from? Tried main Citroen dealer and they can't find a belt listed on ServiceCitroen, worth trying local motor factors.?

Post by **Defender110** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:50 pm

Yep any local motor factors should sort one for you.

mds141 · Post by **mds141** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:49 pm

Just rung EK Brakes (local motor factor) in Lancaster. 6 HP pump belts in stock. Which is good news but i'm surprised they have them in stock. So to my next query, will this belt be for any other application?

KevR · Post by **KevR** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:46 pm

Dunno - it's a very short belt so not sure what else it would be used for... Maybe they just had to order them in tens and they've still got six left!

Post by **Defender110** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:16 pm

mds141 wrote:So to my next query, will this belt be for any other application?

Yup, they are the exact size for the little electric orange Belle cement mixers

not sure about the petrol version though

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:25 pm

Doc\'s right, the belts these days must be 1 or 2mm shorter than the original design. The tensioner doesn\'t so much as get tightened these days; you just place the jockey wheel in the groove of the belt and attempt to fit the lower 13mm bolt. Then when that\'s in a couple of turns you press like hell to get the second one in. Chances are once they\'re in, you won\'t need to attempt to tighten it anymore!

Only one thing though....there are two types of 16v HP setup, can\'t remember if it\'s early cars or late cars that were different, so all the above might all be bollocks to you!

Post by **docchevron** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:18 am

the very early ones were different

mnde · Post by **mnde** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:41 pm

Kitch wrote:Doc's right, the belts these days must be 1 or 2mm shorter than the original design. The tensioner doesn't so much as get tightened these days; you just place the jockey wheel in the groove of the belt and attempt to fit the lower 13mm bolt. Then when that's in a couple of turns you press like hell to get the second one in. Chances are once they're in, you won't need to attempt to tighten it anymore!

I'm glad to read that... the belt I got for my 16 I had to lever on even with the tensioner fully released!

Mark.

mds141 · Post by **mds141** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 6:31 pm

Finally got round to changing the HP pump belt today. Utter bastard of a job to do. Although simple in practice, in reality something else. Taking the jockey wheel off was no problem and fitting the belt over camshaft pulley and pump pulley was simple enough, but getting the belt over the jockey wheel/tensioner and bolting it all together was a nightmare of a job. I enlisted the help of my neighbour who is/was a heavy diesel mechanic and even he struggled. Eventually managed it though and we did the alternator belt as well. The HP pump is much quieter now, so i presume the belt had been degrading for some time.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:04 pm

Hmmm. Belt is an interesting consideration for me. There sometimes seems to be a slightly smokey type stuff appear around the pump/belt. I thought it was oil burning off the exhaust, though it doesn't have that acrid smell to it. Maybe I should check the belt tension. I can twist the belt fairly easily...