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First off thanks again to Turbo Tim and Keith at GDE for their input on changing by timing belt.

My first question is how have you guys held your cam sprockets.

Tim used a screw driver and leveraged behind the sprockets and tightened it up while Keith recommends using VM.1085, the cam sprocket locking tool. (not that Tim has any issues with the correct tools, he just used what he had on hand.)

I have 112K on the jeep right now and in two weeks I am taking it on a 1,000+ mile trip to New Orleans and back(if any locals have any suggestions on what to do or see please PM me). As of right now the tool set at GDE has a waiting list, so I ordered the tools from http://millerspecialtools.spx.com, but when I got my order confirmation it stated "Estimated Ship Date 11-01-2010" so I called them and cancelled my order. So my second question is would you use a method of holding the sprockets other than VM.1085 just to be able to change the belt before I go on the trip, or just wait until I can get the correct tools even if it is after my trip?

I was just looking into ordering this tool as well as the camshaft pins(vm.1052,1053) and the fan pulley spanner tool with adapters.Tried to get the dang fan clutch off yesterday and couldn't get it off for the life of me.I jammed screwdrivers in there,a wedge of wood,prybar,yada yada yada.
After beating the pulley up some good,I decided to look into getting the tool,and wasn't about to try and bother Keith anymore.Sucks that this stuff is on backorder that dang long.


I'm from New Orleans and allways good for a place to crash.
1000+ mile trip sweet.Rest assured...if you break down,you can park it right next to mine.
I will send a PM.

Someone else here went ~150K miles before changing the belt. My goal is 120k-130K. She's got 108K now, so sometime this winter or spring I'll get it done.

I would be tempted to do the same, if I had a typical engine that could be found in any junkyard in America for $500. But not with a $5,000 italian turbo-diesel. A timing belt change for this engine is very cheap insurance.

and what is that?

My VM1085 tool.
You just lock it into the spokes(?) of the cam sprocket when you undo the center bolt.

And what does that do for you? I don't really understand what VM.1085 does other than distribute the load when torquing down the cams. Why do you need to hold the cam sprockets when loosening them, just keep them from moving?

The cams are held in place with the pins.
The pins are probably not strong enough to hold the cams in place while you loosen the center bolt.
You want the center bolts and sprockets loose while you adjust the new belt so that they can freely move while you align the other sprockets.

The cam sprockets are not keyed, so it doesn't matter where they sit with respect to the cams.
The cam sprockets (I would imagine) are a tapered fit so as you tighten them, they grab tight and won't slip after the pins are out and you are running the engine.

I can't tell from that picture, but is the distance between the bolts adjustable ? And what size are the bolts?

What happens when you have one loose, isn't the load of the second one going to be on the cam pin instead of the loosened sprocket? Or do you tighten the first one back up enough to hold the load?