Snapped The Timing Belt Idler Bolt...

[Medium Dave]

So the project I have been working on for about 8 months - and I have not even had the chance to give it a good bootfull over a nice mountain pass, has done just that... and destroyed the engine. So how likely is it that a bolt that could lift a bus would snap under what is not that massive a load?...

[Duncan]

well that sucks.

possible it can break because it is under sideways pressure.....but most likely because the belt was too tight.....did it whir while running?

time to ask the engine builder for a new motor

[kwl33]

Same thing happened to me once, it can be caused by the tensioner spring not being located properly in its slot, when it gets tightened, it makes the bolt bend slightly if its not in the slot and you cant really tell unless your looking for it.

The bolt eventually brakes from fatigue. I was lucky as I only had to drill out the broken piece and put a new bolt in. I feel ya pain though.