Hoary old question re timing belts

Sorry to raise this one but I think I have a different slant on it.

I can get my local guy (Gerry of TI autos) to change the belts on my twin spark 166 for around 500 Euro, with about another 200 Euro required if he changes the variator (around £490 sterling total)

What I am trying to decide is whether to tackle this myself.

I am pretty competent, having rebuilt the engine and gearbox on my Traction Avant Citroen, but the advantage there is that I didn't have to finish it off quickly if you know what I mean. I have changed the belts on one or two cars but usually the cars were in the disposable category, i.e it didn't matter if they didn't work. But of course they did work.

I have seen NiallMoran say that he did the belts on his newer car, the question really is, how hard is it, what tools apart from cam locks did you need, what is access like and how long did it take?

Any and all comments gratefully received as my car is just now going into the 36k range from the last time.

thanks,

Richard

all you need to know:

http://home.hccnet.nl/jaap.bouma/PhaseVariator.htm

the tools can be bought cheaply off ebay or can be hired from the specialist parts suppliers eg eb spares and others

access is good in a 166 as the bay was designed to take a much bigger engine, so much easier than a eg 147. I think dealers allow about 4 hours to get it done, including the variator, so allow a weekend, and make sure the Citroen is working

to be honest if i can do it anybody can

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

I managed to get a hold of a set of cam locks.



Probably took me about 6 hours in total but now that I understand how the tensioners work for example I think I could do it much easier the next time.


I managed to spend 3 days at the job,

1 hour in the rain on Wednesday

about 2 hours yesterday

And say 3 hours today.

Main delays were delivery of the water pump once I decided to change it and that the main belt kit had the wrong tensioner, so I had to go back to the factors today.

All in all, a pretty straightforward job. Nothing like as tricky as people would have you believe.

Like most things I believe that people like to make out that certain things are very tricky when all you have to do is apply your mind and go very slowly.

I am sure Gerry in TI would do the job in a fraction of this time.

Richard

great stuff richard - told you it was easy peasy

Thanks