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Focus 1.6 Petrol 2007 - Drive belt fitting - Fixed #

Posted by Colin Hedger on June 18, 2016, 7:59 am

Year of Manufacture *: 2007
( Optional ) Engine Code or CC: 1600

Hi,
Can anyone please tell me the secret to fitting these damn stretchy alternator drive belts to this engine?
I thought I'd sussed it last time I had one in as I made my own special tool but this time, 2 torn belts,2 hours and still not fitted!
Or is it just the crappy 'Dayco' belts they keep supplying?

Thanks

Yours frustratingly

Colin

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Tony Ludford <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT5539' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 18, 2016, 10:50 am, in reply to "Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."

Here's the Fiesta version video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbGKelM2KwY

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Anthony Pickering <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat3715' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 18, 2016, 3:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Anthony Pickering

Buy genuine belts as the fitting tools come with the belts.

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Matt Booth <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat3028' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 18, 2016, 3:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Matthew Booth

We have the Gates fitting tools. Only time we've damaged the belts is when attempting to reuse them. Some can be a challenge but with a bit of patience it's fairly easy.

I personally quite like the Dayco stuff.

Matt

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by andrew pethig <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat3731' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 18, 2016, 5:30 pm, in reply to "Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Andrew Pethig

i will get flamed for saying this but...

we fit them with mole grips on the crank pulley .

So fit the belt round all the top pulleys and clamp the belt to the crank and use a socket to rotate the crank and pull the belt on , it will be misaligned to start but you can push it over whilst rotating the engine .

I have never been able to get on with the supplied bits of tin in the box .

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Colin Hedger <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT1335' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 18, 2016, 9:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Colin Hedger

But Andy,
Does'nt that put little cuts in the belt where it overlaps and misaligns in the pulleys?

Remember, this engine has 2 pulleys so the belt will be misaligned twice as much before it seats properly!

Colin.

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by andy pethig <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat3731' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 19, 2016, 7:54 am, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Andrew Pethig

if you are worried about the ribs on the belt you can put a shim under the belt as it travels around the pulley. i have used a piece of ally sheet in the past,
it helps if you have a some one to turn the crank while you manipulate the belt

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Anthony Pickering <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat3715' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 19, 2016, 8:33 am, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Anthony Pickering

The stretch belt mate kit are pretty pony as well. Ok if the crank pulley has two different diameters but dont work with a twin pulley with same diameters.

I tried a slightly longer belt once, just squealed like mad no matter how much belt dressing was put on it.

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Craig <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat3722' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 19, 2016, 9:49 am, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."

I bought 2 of the plastic stretch belt mate tools and trimmed one of them to suit. About 8 quid. I don't think I've seen a twin pulley with same diameter
A ford tech told me he gets a rag, wraps it around the belt and guides it over the alternator as someone turns engine. Didn't work for me!

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Tom Williams <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT5478' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 19, 2016, 6:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Thomas Williams

Purchase the Gates tools. The time you lose trying to do without them will cost more in the long run. I've slightly modified the smallest diameter tool by using a different bolt, which makes it easier.
The Peugeot diesel engine can be a pain, because turning the crank pulley anti-clockwise, as per Gates instructions, often undoes the crank bolt.

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Peter Warman <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=Peter+Warman' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 20, 2016, 2:54 pm, in reply to "Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Peter Warman

Hi Colin

Had all them problems, blood, sweat and tears

Bought this tool a couple of years back, once mastered they go on easy

Peter

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by David Greenwood <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat3925' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 20, 2016, 5:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
David Greenwood

You can buy all the tool kits you like for these but there is another way thats 100x easier

Under the 15 bolt and 15ml nut at the top of the alternator. Remove the e10 stud that the 15ml nut sat on.
Loosen the 15ml bolt at the bottom of the alternator a turn or 2 so the alternator can move back and forth freely pivoting on this bolt.
Route the belt around the pulleys as they should be
Push the alternator up and over to where it should be sitting, quickly whack the e10 stud back into place
This should hold the alternator al most in place.
Give the alternator a wiggle as you tighten up each bolt u remove.
Bang, the belt is on

If the belt is too tight to get the bolts in it might take 2 of you. 1 to push the alternator up, the other guy using a pry bar to push the alternator over in line with the bolt holes. Quickly whack the e10 in n give a little tap with copper hammer

Job done

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Darren Bamford <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT5465' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 20, 2016, 6:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Darren Bamford

This is the tool I use its dead simple to use , cheap and fast.

Not failed on the belts I needed to refit.

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Matt Booth <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat3028' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 20, 2016, 9:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Matthew Booth

I do that when refitting after doing cambelts David but I do make a conscious effort to ensure the alternator bolts back on square (paranoid!). I put a crow foot pry bar in one of the top holes to lever it. Seems to work but I do worry about it not bolting on square due to the pull from the belt.

The laser tool looks identical to the gates - but probably costs less!

Matt

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Chris Angus <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat5111' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 21, 2016, 9:34 am, in reply to "Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."

I got the ford belt kit that comes with tool, it's just so simple and effortless.

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by David Greenwood <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat3925' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 23, 2016, 8:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
David Greenwood

I don't think you can really go wrong as far as alternator alignment goes. I've never once had a problem with these belts. 2 bolts go one way and 1 bolt goes 90 degrees to the top 2 so it squares itself on nicely. Never had a belt cause issues from this method. So easy doing it this way not even worth the time taking a tool out of a box

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.

Posted by Tony Ludford <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT5539' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2016, 6:47 am, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Tony Ludford

You're saying removing a nut, stud and bolt, undoing another bolt and possibly using a second person to push the alternator if it's awkward is easier than using one tool and rotating the crankshaft!

Okay then.

Fixed #

Posted by Colin Hedger on June 30, 2016, 7:48 am, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting."
Edited by board administrator August 1, 2016, 8:08 am

Thanks very much to all who replied to this thread.
Some replies I thought were great - some not so great. I also asked around mates in the trade who gave me some frankly shocking replies!
The point is I know there are different methods to do this but I did'nt want to damage the belt and shorten its life - it seems some people dont care about this as long as the belt goes on!
I was aware of the laser tool thanks Peter but I was too tight to buy it as I knew I had done it before using my own 'home made device' and these cars for me seem to be getting less and less now.
David - I so wish I had read your solution of undoing the alternator before I had sorted it, but even that cant possibly be quicker than using the correct tool.
In the end I borrowed a mates 'genuine' Ford tool.
My long term solution solution was to buy the genuine Ford belt kit (2 belts and a tool like the Laser one included in the box), but instead of the £52 plus VAT Ford wanted, a company on E Bay are selling them 1/2 price for £26 plus VAT.
Next one that comes in gets the genuine belt kit fitted at Ford retail and I get the tool for free.
This is a business after all. Aside fom all that, the Ford belts look so much better than the crappy Dayco ones.
Knowing my luck I'll probably never see another one of these and the belts will go into the cupboard along side my unused stock of Cortina void bushes!

Cheers

Colin

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.- FIXED!

Posted by Chris Angus <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat5111' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 30, 2016, 8:25 am, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.- FIXED!"

I just did another one yesterday on a Focus, I already have the ford tool and used a conti belt this time, it was very tight and I ripped it, got a gates belt and it went on lovely, you could just tell they were different quality.

Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.- FIXED!

Posted by Martin Kelly <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT2863' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 30, 2016, 7:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Focus 1.6 Petrol Drive belt fitting.- FIXED!"
Martin Kelly

Hi, did a 2011 Transit with 2 belts last week, Ford kit came with 2 die-cast ali tools and worked perfectly.

Martin.

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