Has Anyone Ever Seen This - Timing Belt

[turbo55]

So I was doing an ignition system refresh and saw some suspicious rubber shavings by the distributor rotor in the timing belt housing. Timing belt was last done by PO (at an auto auction house) in 2012 only under 10k miles ago.
Smelling trouble, I decided to do the timing belt and found this (see pictures below).
Has anyone ever seen this before? Also, isn't there supposed to be a spring above the tensioner?!?!?!?! Is that what went wrong or is there some other issue? None of the pulleys feel wobbly. I can easily slide the belt around on the tensioner with my fingers. This is my first timing belt job, if I order a timing belt + tensioner, will it come with the spring? Or is that something I need to buy separate? Help appreciated.

[ttrousdell]

Looks like they never installed the spring so the tensioner wasn't working as well as it should and the belt slid forward

[Cabriolet]

this is not uncommon. your tensioner is shot.

BEFORE YOU START! set the engine to top dead center. there is a mark on the crank and a more precise one on the cam.

buy the contitech timing belt kit and the spring 11311267746 is the part number. and the pin 11311280960. you need both.
after installing the bet, release the tensioner so that the spring pushes it tight. then then rotate the crank for times and checking the timing mark. then tighten up the tensioner.

use only distilled water and BMW coolant.

[16vCorey]

Yep, the tensioner is shot. Sometimes they come loose where they fasten to the mounting bracket, and it causes them to cock to an angle and rub the cover.

[SkiFree]

That looks to be a rather interesting one. Thank goodness it didn't turn out to be more catastrophic.

Some more in touch suppliers are savvy enough to already include the spring and pin with the timing belt kit.

[dnguyen1963]

I'll say you are one lucky dude to catch it on time.

[wannasupra]

ecs has the gates timing belt also.

[downforce22]

I wasn't so lucky, but the bolt on the oil pump gear came look and did something similar. Like others said though, get that spring and pin in there, tighten the bolt down after you check the timing to make sure its not going anywhere.

There was a 1/8" groove in the metal from the belt. But it trashed my head.

[101]

The spring and pin are sold separately from the timing belt kit. Around $5 for both from the stealer.

I've seen M20 engines where the spring is missing. I had one. While I understand that once the tension is set the spring really doesn't do anything more - it basically remains there in case the bolts holding the tensioner in position would ever back off.

I also always replace the stamped camshaft and oil pump drive gears with the updated cast ones when I encounter them. It looks like you have the stamped gear on your oil pump drive.

[nando]

I wasn't so lucky, but the bolt on the oil pump gear came look and did something similar. Like others said though, get that spring and pin in there, tighten the bolt down after you check the timing to make sure its not going anywhere.

There was a 1/8" groove in the metal from the belt. But it trashed my head.

you have the stamped oil pump gear and likely the stamped cam gear. Those are prone to failure.

[Andy Mechnic]

I'll say you are one lucky dude to catch it on time.

Agreed, that loose belt could've easily caused timing to jump, then its Good Night Irene, hello new valves.

[SkiFree]

The spring and pin are sold separately from the timing belt kit. Around $5 for both from the stealer.

As I mentioned, some suppliers more familiar with these cars offer the kit with the spring and pin.

Case in point...

http://www.iemotorsport.com/bmw/E30-engine/M20tmgKIT.html

But yes, agreed, if you've got the stamped sprockets while you are in there.

[uturn]

Am I the only one that noticed the dirt and oil buildup? Should look into new seals and gaskets also while it's all out.

[turbo55]

Yeah, definitely was really lucky there.

I'll call the stealer tomorrow and see if they carry that pin and spring, will probably get the gates or conti belt+tensioner.

Whats this about the stamped vs cast? Is this the sprockets themselves that are prone to failure or something else? Where do I get these new stamped ones?

And yes, I need a new camshaft seal, which I am planning on doing with the timing belt. The oil coming down the front of the engine caused the rubber shavings from the timing belt to stick to it, making a nice rubber paste...
Also, I need a new HG, hasn't been done since the 90s and needs it. I'm waiting till the spring or summer on that one though since its way too cold here in New England to do it now - can't clean anything significant cuz the water will freeze. Also when I do the HG I want to paint the intake and manifold, and it's too cold for the paint to stick now too.

Thanks for all the feedback!

[101]

^^^ Correct. The sprockets themselves can shear. They are just stamped sheet metal vs. the newer style which is a LOT beefier.

Here's an older thread on the topic with comparison pictures:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=276068&highlight=stamped