Gates timing belts: how to distinguish the original from a fake, completeness of the product, installation features

Features of belts

Modern Gates products are distinguished by high quality and affordable prices. 100 years ago the first timing belt was produced. Over the course of a century, Gates has mastered the production of belts not only for vehicles, but also fully supplies agricultural machinery with high-quality products. The company operates its own center for scientific research.

Developers and manufacturers have taken into account the conditions in which their products must operate:

• high speed mode;
• wide range of temperature fluctuations;
• exposure to oils.

The procedures for replacing the belt on different engines differ from each other. For technically difficult cases of belt replacement, Gates issues instructions; the presence of such instructions is indicated on the box with the belt.

The instructions themselves can be found on the company’s official website.

The manufacturer approaches the production process with strict demands regarding quality, strength and safety. Gates timing belts have the following characteristics:

• special ingredients are introduced into the raw materials to provide protection against various factors affecting product wear;
• glass fiber is used in a rubber shell;
• silent operation is ensured by tight adhesion of the teeth profile to the gears;
• There are spare parts and tool kits for organizing repair work;
• Product protection against counterfeiting is organized at a high level.

What is the timing belt used for?

Now let’s figure out what a timing belt is and what its operating principle is. Its main purpose is to connect the camshaft and crankshaft.

Purpose and principle of operation of the device

The timing drive is a rubber product with a toothed inner surface. Made from durable rubber, it fits over the crankshaft and one or more camshaft gears. The purpose of the teeth is to provide good grip and prevent slipping. Their number is strictly defined, since the synchronization of the crankshaft and camshafts depends on it. For example, on VAZ-2111 and VAZ-2112 engines, camshaft belts with 111 and 136 teeth, respectively, are installed.

Timing belt

The camshaft wire is an important component of the car, so you should understand what a timing belt is and constantly monitor its condition. Replacement should be carried out according to the regulations after 30-45 thousand kilometers or if its parts are damaged. If the replacement is not done in a timely manner, the belt may break, which will lead (at best) to stopping the car, or at worst to a breakdown of the internal combustion engine and its overhaul or replacement. The reason for this is that when the belt breaks or comes off, the synchronization of the shafts disappears, as a result of which the pistons begin to hit the valves. Since this most often happens at high speeds, components quickly become unusable.

Proper operation of the engine can extend the service life of the engine. You should not start the engine by towing; it is at these moments that there is a high probability of the timing belt breaking and slipping off, which leads to breakdown of the power unit. It is cheaper to find and eliminate the cause of the problem, or call a tow truck, than to overhaul the power unit. In addition to synchronizing the shafts, the belt can serve as a drive for the pump:

The proper functioning of the engine in the car depends on the proper functioning of the timing belt and the timing belt, so you should monitor the condition of the gas distribution system: observe routine checks and promptly replace components that have become unusable.

Explanation of timing belt symbols

Decoding the timing belt designations according to international standards can be considered using the example of a belt for a VAZ-2111 power unit. These engines are equipped with an ISO-58111×19 belt. The first two digits - 58 - contain an encrypted series of teeth. In the case under consideration, the pitch and profile are without a groove, semicircular in shape with a height of 3.5 mm. The next numbers - 111 - indicate the number of teeth. The X is followed by the number 19, indicating the width of the belt. There may be teeth in the shape of a rounded trapezoid (involute). They can be completely replaced by those described above.

Many timing belt manufacturers do not indicate the ISO designation, but a number that corresponds to their own catalog. Below is a table with designations and brief characteristics of belts from different manufacturers.

Dayco timing belt

Advantages and disadvantages

Thanks to the high quality of its products, Gates has ensured its steady popularity among buyers and users of timing belts. The list of advantages is huge:

• high wear resistance;
• The products fulfill the entire required warranty period with a reserve, and it is necessary to take into account special extreme operating conditions (aggressive environmental conditions, temperature intervals);
• the precise fit of the teeth and the properties of the material used provide conditions for quiet operation;
• The presence of glass fiber in the materials creates extreme tensile strength.

The biggest disadvantage is the strong desire of many manufacturers to counterfeit products and produce counterfeit products . But a hundred years of experience allows manufacturers to protect their goods from good quality, but still fake. Therefore, consumers receive not only Gates timing kits, but also other products of the required quality. Methods for protecting commercial products have been developed here.

Important information about the timing belt mechanism

The GRS mechanism belt guarantees an elastic connection between both shafts, controls the process of opening/closing the valves and their synchronous operation. In a word, this is a very important element of the GDS mechanism and the car as a whole.

Timing belt from Toyota

Another function of the belt is to prevent the pistons and valves of the power plant from meeting each other, although they operate in the same spatial plane. For this reason, the reliability of the belt is extremely important, and if it breaks, the piston meets the valve and bends it. This inevitably leads to a thorough overhaul of the internal combustion engine.

The reliability of the belt, as mentioned above, depends directly on the release date and service life of the product. Replacement must be carried out periodically, constantly monitoring the condition of the part. It will be interesting to note that you can directly find out about the replacement frequency based on a specific car brand. You can see this in the technical documentation. On the other hand, craftsmen and experts recommend not to blindly believe the data, but to replace it every 50 or 80 thousand kilometers.

It will be useful to know that few foreign car manufacturers indicate a period for replacing a product of less than 120 thousand km. But dealers selling cars from the same manufacturer, on the contrary, advise changing the belt after the same 50-80 thousand km, taking into account the peculiarities of Russian roads.

If cracks appear on the belt, it should be changed immediately, this is true. But you should not do this, of course, if we are talking about microcracks. In this case, the product will definitely not break, since the belt, although rubber, is woven from metal rods. Thus, it is able to withstand shock loads repeatedly, while working for a long time.

If the belt weakens, that is, its tension decreases, this will lead to problems in the operation of the internal combustion engine. It will negatively affect the dynamics of the car, its traction, noise and starting. It is precisely these signs that will indicate a loose belt or wear in the first place.

Belt gates

All car manufacturers unanimously recommend replacing the tensioner roller and pump simultaneously with replacing the rubber-metal belt. The cost of carrying out this work is quite high, and the complexity is not questioned, but otherwise it is extremely difficult to ensure reliability.

It will be useful to know that some cars are equipped with timing belts with reinforced metal cord. It is better to buy them, since the service life is noticeably higher than usual.

Three main ways to distinguish an original from a fake

In order to protect the Gates timing belt from counterfeiting, the original was provided with distinctive packaging.

There are three main methods for checking the originality of Gates belts.

1. Checking the 14-digit alphanumeric product packaging codes. This package code looks like this: This code must be entered on the official website of the Company.
2. The company's products are protected by a QR code (for products manufactured after July 2015). This code allows you to check using the Mobile application on your smartphone. You need to scan the code in the TecIdentify app or Neoreader app.
3. The company also uses tesa PrioSpot® labels to protect its products. This protection is verified as follows: This code is unique for each package. Can't be repeated.
4. The label shimmers with rainbow colors, the moving digit repeats the last security digit. As you move the viewing angle, the last digit changes up and down.
5. Checking with a magnifying glass. You must ensure that the 10-digit code appears under the Gates logo. Its last 4 digits must correspond to the security code, as well as the last four digits of the letter code.

And also characteristic of the original:

• bright red, rich, even color;
• the year of manufacture matches on the packaging and on the belt itself;
• image of the manufacturer’s website address on the black stripe of the packaging;
• technical information about the belt is pasted;
• on the side surface there is a characteristic structure of letters (uneven);
• The packaging box is made of pressed cardboard and has a rough gray surface on the inside;
• the packaging is sealed;
• The label inside the box indicating the installation date and mileage comes off well.

How to avoid buying a fake timing belt: recommendations

Today there are a large number of fakes on the auto parts market. Naturally, the timing drive did not stand aside. Products from not only brands of expensive manufacturers are counterfeited, but also brands that are in the middle price category. To reduce the likelihood of purchasing a fake to zero, we advise you to follow simple rules when choosing the right product:

1. Visit stores you trust . It doesn't matter which timing belt you choose. It is better to take from official representatives of companies producing specific products.
2. Inspect the packaging box carefully . Companies that value their reputation invest heavily in printing. If you have the original box in front of you, the images on it will be clear and not blurry. You will not find any grammatical errors in the text part. Perhaps there will be a hologram, although not all companies use it.
3. Carefully inspect the drive and all parts included in the repair kit . The outer side of the belt necessarily contains data that will tell about the characteristics and purpose of the product. For example, brand, size, etc. In addition, the rubber must be free of cracks, damage, various inclusions and other inconsistencies.

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Some companies can check their product using an online check. QR codes, drawings and other information are applied to the surface of the box, which helps to identify counterfeit products. Using a smartphone and the Internet, product data can be easily checked. You can also send an SMS indicating the code written on the box.

It is important to remember that the counterfeit will work for a very short period of time, while the operation of the gas distribution mechanism and other devices of the power unit will not be performed well enough. Therefore, if you want your drive and the mechanisms that depend on it to work for a long time, then purchase only original products.

Product Variations

The company provides almost all variety of automobile brands and models with reliable products. To make it easier for customers to select belts, Gates offers the use of detailed catalogs developed by the company. Here it is easy and simple to select the necessary part. If the consumer wishes, you can find a worthy analogue of the product or purchase a set of special tools for performing installation work.

The company offers owners of passenger cars belts that are completely equivalent in quality to the original ones, equipped with rollers, as well as elements for sealing and other components related to the timing belt.

Complete set of timing belts

The drive system largely ensures the safety of the vehicle. The failure of one element of the system may well lead to the failure of other parts. Therefore, timely replacement of belts and all tensioning devices ensures the safety and flawless functioning of the entire propulsion system of the car. PowerGrip® Kit Plus are ideal for solving such problems. You can purchase special PowerGrip® Kit Plus with additional rings that serve to seal and drain oil or a water pump, making it possible to replace all critical timing drive mechanisms. The company produces and supplies original equipment with a high quality guarantee.

Analogs

The most popular company whose products are in high demand among customers is Gates. Similar products are supplied to retail chains from manufacturers Contitech and Dayco. A domestic manufacturer in Balakovo supplies car owners with belts at an average price. Bosch and Lemforder also produce similar products at an affordable price. You can learn more about analogues in this article.

High quality products that can be purchased at an affordable price are in demand and popular among drivers. This is consistent with Gates products.