Esprit V8 Cambelt tensioners

[tonycharente]

Hello,

I am trying to help two French friends who only have limited English - the garage working on the car and the actual owner of the car.

The car needs it's cambelts replacing. The cambelt tensioners (C9E0297J) both need replacing as they are damaged.

I have tried to find a pair of new cambelt tensioners (C9E0297J) but have not been successful in doing so.

My questions are:-

Where can I buy a pair of new cambelt tensioners (C9E0297J)?

There seems to be three relevant part numbers:-

C918E0297J which I take to be the complete tensioner assembly.   It is the plastic part of this which is damaged, so it can't  be reused, hence the problem.

 

C918E6066F which I take to be the tensioner drum cum bearing.  

 

D918E0293F which I take to be what the C918E6066F turns on.

 

In other words I think that C918E0297J is made up of C918E6066F plus D918E0293F.   

 

If so, what keeps the C918E6066F on the D918E0293F, please?  

 

And should it be possible to fit a C918E6066F onto the old D918E0293F ?

 

Any other solution?

 

Many thanks

Tony

[Ruud Hensbergen]

Dear Tony,

The C918E0297 is a "complete: timing belt tensioner + hub, is available by SJ Sportscars and costs £ 124.06 excl. VAT.

The bearing: C918E6066F also available at SJ costs: £ 95.05 excl. VAT.

There is in my mind no need to replace the hub, If it is in good condition.

Did you inspect the pully idlers too?

Succes,

Ruud Hensbergen

 

[tonycharente]

Thanks Ruud,

My garage friend ordered one online from SJ Sportscars back in September, but although it appears on their website they didn't in fact have it.  I will email them so see if they now them, but I expect not.   Hence all my queries remain.   

I'll update here if they ever they do now have them.

Thanks again,

Tony

[mike_sekinger]

PNM  also have them listed on their website - but are showing Out of Stock:

Lotus Esprit V8 Timing Belt Tensioner Bearing Assembly (pnmparts.co.uk)

C918E6066F Lotus Esprit V8 Tensioner Bearing (pnmparts.co.uk)

Probably worth and email to understand if there is a re-order date.

[tonycharente]

 

 

ESPRIT V8 TENSIONER BEARING *CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE*

Model: C918E6066F

£81.86

Excl. Vat

 

Add to Cart

ESPRIT V8 TENSIONER BEARING ASSEMBLY * NOW OBSOLETE*

Model: C918E0297J

Thanks Mike,

I've just sent PNM an email.

ll update here if they ever they do now have them.

Thanks again,

Tony

 

[v8GTmac1]

I foreseen this happening so I had these made. 6061 aluminum with a standard bearing readily available single and double row. Shoot me a message if i can help. 

Edited February 8 by v8GTmac1

[tonycharente]

2 hours ago, v8GTmac1 said:

I foreseen this happening so I had these made. 6061 aluminum with a standard bearing readily available single and double row. Shoot me a message if i can help. 

Hello v8GTmac1,

Thank you for your suggestion.   I think you may have tried to attach a photo (    ) but if, so that doesn't seem to open.  Please could you attach a photo as a JPEG.

C918E0297J, (the complete tensioner assembly) really does seem to be no longer available.  However C918E6066F (the tensioner drum cum bearing) does now seem to be available again.

Thanks again

Tony

 

[v8GTmac1]

Edited February 8 by v8GTmac1

[tonycharente]

Thank you very much v8GTmac1,

Amazingly good work!

I have sent an email to my two French friends to determine how they are getting along with purchasing two C918E6066F's

and then fitting them.

I will report back on how they've got on, but it may be a while.

Thanks again,

Tony

 

 

 

 

 

[Escape]

SJ Sportscars has an alternative available, all metal. I'm expecting mine on Friday and will report.

Word from Lotus is that the originals, with the plastic pulley, will become available again next week. But no guarantee.

Filip

PS: If a picture is not showing, it sometimes helps to right click 'open image in new tab'. 😉

[tonycharente]

Hello Filip,

Thank you for this.   Have just looked at the SJ Sportscars website.  They seem to be showing the Lotus C918E6066F, but when I click on the "Steve's alternative" it shows what looks to be an engine mounting, with an entirely different part number ???

Cheers

Tony

 

 

 

[Escape]

The part number is indeed different, starting with SJ as it's one of their custom reproductions. And yes, the photo is wrong, but I can confirm the part is correct. Furthermore, the bearing is replaceable and held in place with a circlip instead of pressed in.

[Escape]

I spoke too soon about the part being correct... I tried fitting it last night, in between other jobs. Turns out the bearing inner diameter is only 30mm, but needs to be 35mm.

I've contacted Steve and I'm sure we'll work something out. In the mean time, better not order any to avoid encountering the same problem!

Will keep you posted,

Filip

[tonycharente]

Hello Filip,

In helping my two French friends I was told by Geoff

of https://espritengineering.co.uk/  that there were two sizes for the boss.

The C918E6066F needs the 30mm boss  -  which a 35mm boss can be machined down to.

Not so easy in the other direction of course !!!

Cheers

Tony

 

 

[Escape]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the info! Steve from SJ was very helpful (as usual) and had already sent me the same info, seems I do indeed have the older, bigger bosses. I'll see about having them turned down, not so easy to find a competent machine shop that will accept small/single orders. Or just order the newer bosses and be done with it.

Did your friends get the parts they need? Despite the setback I do still recommend SJ Sportscars.

Greetz,

Filip