Timing belt question

"Mal Osborne" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Leon van Dommelen" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Zog The Undeniable > wrote:
>>
>>>zenmartini wrote:
>>>> I know the timing belt is supposed to be replaced at 60k. My 2000 is
>>>> at 75k but the belt is in good condition... no nicks etc. Money is
>>>> tight at the moment... how much longer can I go before this has to be
>>>> replaced... I know that I'll be stuck wherever I am but there is no
>>>> damage that can occur right?
>>>>
>>>The biggest risk is that it fails halfway through an overtaking
>>>manoeuvre. However, and for reasons I don't understand, the Miata/MX-5
>>>belts normally fail when the engine is first fired up.
>>
>> The rubber is harder when the belt is cold?
>>
>> Leon
>> --
>>
> Also oil is cold & more viscious.

Maybe just me, but I hate when my oil gets viscious.

"Zog The Undeniable" > wrote in message
...
> zenmartini wrote:
>> I know the timing belt is supposed to be replaced at 60k. My 2000 is
>> at 75k but the belt is in good condition... no nicks etc. Money is
>> tight at the moment... how much longer can I go before this has to be
>> replaced... I know that I'll be stuck wherever I am but there is no
>> damage that can occur right?
>>
> The biggest risk is that it fails halfway through an overtaking manoeuvre.
> However, and for reasons I don't understand, the Miata/MX-5 belts normally
> fail when the engine is first fired up.
Inertia. The two I had fail (not in MX5) occurred at startup and in one case
when warm. I guess when started there is a sudden change in lateral tension
on the teeth from nothing to something high before it calms down and
everything gets moving. I guess the only other time the rate of change is
approached is when you put your foot down hard.

"J Brockley" > wrote:

>
>"Zog The Undeniable" > wrote in message
...
>> zenmartini wrote:
>>> I know the timing belt is supposed to be replaced at 60k. My 2000 is
>>> at 75k but the belt is in good condition... no nicks etc. Money is
>>> tight at the moment... how much longer can I go before this has to be
>>> replaced... I know that I'll be stuck wherever I am but there is no
>>> damage that can occur right?
>>>
>> The biggest risk is that it fails halfway through an overtaking manoeuvre.
>> However, and for reasons I don't understand, the Miata/MX-5 belts normally
>> fail when the engine is first fired up.
>Inertia. The two I had fail (not in MX5) occurred at startup and in one case
>when warm. I guess when started there is a sudden change in lateral tension
>on the teeth from nothing to something high before it calms down and
>everything gets moving. I guess the only other time the rate of change is
>approached is when you put your foot down hard.

Did they fail when you were cranking the engine or when it started?

Leon
--
Leon van Dommelen Bess, the Miata Bozo, the Miata
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
The only thing better than a white Miata is two white Miatas

Thank you all; I replaced it at 60k but now that it's 136k, I
think it's not worth replacing for the rest of the car's life
(unless the water pump goes)

cramer wrote:
> Thank you all; I replaced it at 60k but now that it's 136k, I think
> it's not worth replacing for the rest of the car's life (unless the
> water pump goes)

Not for the rest of the car's life? Heck, that baby's just barely
broken in at this point. We've got a couple members in our local club
that have over 250,000 miles on their Miatas.

Unless you're planning on blowing up the engine or destroying the car
in an accident, I'd re-think that position.

Iva & Belle.)
'90B Classic Red.)
#3 winkin' Miata

"Iva" > wrote:

> cramer wrote:
>> Thank you all; I replaced it at 60k but now that it's 136k, I
>> think it's not worth replacing for the rest of the car's life
>> (unless the water pump goes)
>
> Not for the rest of the car's life? Heck, that baby's just barely
> broken in at this point. We've got a couple members in our local
> club that have over 250,000 miles on their Miatas.
>
> Unless you're planning on blowing up the engine or destroying the
> car in an accident, I'd re-think that position.

I agree but maybe when he says, "the rest of the car's life" he means
"as long as I'll own the car?"

I'm wondering if maybe he's got an idea there? I have a towing service
card, a cell phone and the Miata is a non-interference engine, maybe
it's less expensive to just let the belt break and then get towed to a
shop? I don't think I'd do that but.....

"XS11E" > wrote in message
.. .
> "Iva" > wrote:
>
>> cramer wrote:
>>> Thank you all; I replaced it at 60k but now that it's 136k, I
>>> think it's not worth replacing for the rest of the car's life
>>> (unless the water pump goes)
>>
>> Not for the rest of the car's life? Heck, that baby's just barely
>> broken in at this point. We've got a couple members in our local
>> club that have over 250,000 miles on their Miatas.
>>
>> Unless you're planning on blowing up the engine or destroying the
>> car in an accident, I'd re-think that position.
>
> I agree but maybe when he says, "the rest of the car's life" he means
> "as long as I'll own the car?"
>
> I'm wondering if maybe he's got an idea there? I have a towing service
> card, a cell phone and the Miata is a non-interference engine, maybe
> it's less expensive to just let the belt break and then get towed to a
> shop? I don't think I'd do that but.....
>

And if it happens to break on Saturday night in the crack-house district?

On 2007-05-13, Mal Osborne > wrote:

>> I'm wondering if maybe he's got an idea there? I have a towing service
>> card, a cell phone and the Miata is a non-interference engine, maybe
>> it's less expensive to just let the belt break and then get towed to a
>> shop? I don't think I'd do that but.....
>
> And if it happens to break on Saturday night in the crack-house district?

People with Miatas don't hang around the crack-house district
on Saturday nights.

--
Grant Edwards

"Mal Osborne" > wrote:

>
> "XS11E" > wrote in message
> .. .

>> I'm wondering if maybe he's got an idea there? I have a towing
>> service card, a cell phone and the Miata is a non-interference
>> engine, maybe it's less expensive to just let the belt break and
>> then get towed to a shop? I don't think I'd do that but.....
>>
>
> And if it happens to break on Saturday night in the crack-house
> district?

Can't. She Who Must Be Obeyed doesn't let me go to the crack-house
district. <sigh>

> >> I'm wondering if maybe he's got an idea there? I have a towing service
> >> card, a cell phone and the Miata is a non-interference engine, maybe
> >> it's less expensive to just let the belt break and then get towed to a
> >> shop? I don't think I'd do that but.....
> >
> > And if it happens to break on Saturday night in the crack-house
district?
>
> People with Miatas don't hang around the crack-house district
> on Saturday nights.

I've heard that Lesbian or Transgendered drivers will often drive near
crack-house districts, but not for proximity to crack. Saturday nights show
a 73rd percentile comparative to mean of other days of the week. (Not true
for Gay or Bisexual drivers tho.)

C'mon funding, c'mon funding...

miker