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MG MGF Technical - Cam Belt, Flywheel lock help needed

I would like to change the Cam belt on my wife's 1997 MGF.(1.8 non VVC, no Air con) I have changed cam belts on cars before and have bought the tools to lock the cams and Flywheel. I have the use a lift to get under the car, but I am finding it difficult to get the starter motor off to fit the lock. Is there a simple way or is it just a case of struggling from underneath? Also what is the difference between the K16 engine and the K18? is it as simple as 1.6,1.8 Thank you in advance for any help/info.
Brian
B Smith

k16 is sixteen valves, not sure there is a k18

I took off the starter from above, which wasn't more difficult that any of the other jobs!
Will Munns

A impact wrench is brilliant at removing the crank nut - I used an electric on which cost just over £100 and saved taking the starter motor off. Air powered wrenches obviously also make it easy

On another forum some people have revoved the nut using the 12volt impact drivers you can use for wheel nuts

To do it back up with a wrench either mark the relative position of the nut to the pulley and do it to the same position or I used a Torque Stick in the impact wrench to get the correct torque

As an aside a impact wrench and the correct torque stick is great for removing wheel nuts and torquing them up correctly

Chris
Chris

Hopefully this has uploaded the 2 pictures of the 2 locking devices. The one with 2 holes is for the K18 engines and is shown in the Rover MGF manual and the multiple hole one is for the K16

Brian
B Smith

1)

B Smith

2)

B Smith

I loosened the starter motor bolts by first removing the LH rearwheel and the inner cover.

I then used a very long 24" bar which reached outside the car with a 1/2" square drive socket to reach the end of the bolt - I had tried a 3/8" drive but it stated to twist - not sure what the torque was but very tight, so I resorted to a very long lever as well.

Replacing was easy, using ratchet spanner on the inside (nut end)then tweaking with the long bar throught the wheel arch to finish off. Probably not recommended because the tightness is cannot be checked properly, but it has worked for me.

Chris M
Chris M

The K 18 locking tool is used on the Rover 75 1.8 K series engine. From what I worked out it attaches to the gear box housing in a different place to the mgf which you have to take the starter motor off for. I had trouble removing the fly wheel on my car when I changed the head gasket. I have since bought the locking tool with the multi holes in it and hope that it will do the job in the future.
A Hitchings

Thanks for the help on this matter. I will get it done as soon as poss as it has done 79,000 miles and there is no history of it having been changed

Brian
B Smith

Just wondered how you got on. I recently did mine, and may be able to help
I Brown

to change timn belt on k16 u use cam locking tool,about a fiver.you dont need a flywheels tool of any descriptionmake sure both top cams align and bottom camshaft,most of the belt tensioners are self ajusting.usually k16 is 1600cc,k18 1800cc,k14,1400cc,but beware you can only get a k16.k stands for the engine and 16 for the number of valves,all head are the same apart from vvc,its the block that is different
ianarmstrong

This thread was discussed between 12/10/2007 and 18/11/2007

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