Helpful guide on avoiding a big headache with Deutz Diesel and Ford Industrial engines
This Tech Tip is one of a series we publish for people who either operate or overhaul industrial engines. In this Dr Diesel Tech Tip we address the issue of Deutz and Ford industrial engine timing belts. The Deutz 1011 and Deutz 2011 series engines as well as the Ford LRG425 and Ford LSG423/425 industrial engines are “interference” engines. This means that there is not a lot of space between the pistons and valves. When the timing belt breaks, the camshaft stops turning, which causes the engine to stop. Moreover, because these are “interference” engines a broken timing belt then leads to the pistons hitting the valves and damaging the cylinder head. This can lead to an expensive repair bill. In fact, sometimes the parts and labor cost can exceed more than $1000 if you are repairing a Deutz 1011 or 2011 with a damaged head. All in all, a broken timing belt isn’t a good thing and one that can be easily avoided.
Deutz Diesel and Ford Industrial Engine Belt Change Intervals
No one can safely say when a timing belt will break. Ford doesn’t even have a published specification for the recommended change intervals on their LRG425 and LSG425 engines. Clearly the service life depends on many factors including the hours of engine use, the quality of belt material, typical engine speeds, etc. In our experience, the main determinant of timing belts life is the actual application of the engine. If your Deutz diesel is powering a concrete saw with lots of ambient dust and grit, we think that changing the belt every 700 hours is appropriate. If your Ford industrial engine is in a wood chipper with wood chips flying all around and frequent changes in RPM, the same 700 hour interval should be followed. Changing a belt frequently is low cost insurance against an expensive repair. What does the AAMCO guy on TV say? Pay me now or pay more later?
Doing the Complete Job with a Timing Belt Repair Kit
In addition to changing the belt itself, it is important to change also the belt tensioner/idler pulley. Additionally, for a Deutz diesel it is important to hold the camshaft and crankshaft in place and prevent it from turning and changing the engine’s timing. To help you do this, Foley offers our own complete timing belt repair kits. These repair kits include the belt and idler pulley for the Ford LRG425 and LSG423/425 engines. For the Deutz 1011 and 2011 series, we offer a similar belt and idler pulley and bolt plus we add to it custom made timing pins to hold the Deutz cam and crankshaft in place and not alter the timing, as well as an OTC timing belt tension gauge. When installing a replacement Deutz timing belt, some people have attempted to use a pair of homemade, tapered bolts or a pair of screwdrivers as timing tools to hold the crankshaft and camshaft in place. Frankly, this will not work and the engine will not be timed correctly. Rather you should use our special Deutz diesel timing pins. These innovative timing pins are designed to thread into Deutz 1011 and 2011 cylinder block. When fully screwed in, these pins then lock into the camshaft and crankshaft at and only at Top Dead Center (TDC). A Deutz diesel must be at TDC to be timed correctly.
