Hi guys

I need your help please.

I've bought a new fan belt to put in the deluxe.

What is the best/easiest way to change this, it looks like a major operation - I tried squeezing the belt between the rad and fan but no way will that fit.

I have a two piece/clubman(?) style shroud/cowling. What's my options?

Regards
James

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If you look at shroud you'll notice an area at about 1 o'clock position thats not round, belt fits through there.

You squeeze the belt between the fan and the shroud, poke it between two blades, rotate the fan to feed the belt right around and the job is done!

Yeah I can see that bit, but the problem is getting it past the centre of the fan where it bolts to the water pump pulley, there's next to no room between it and the rad

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Does anyone know the Dayco part number for the correct belt?
Ripco seem to list 2 different lengths for a mini.

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http://www.flickr.com/by_dan
Current: 1970 Mini K 2014 Focus ST
Past: 93 Rover, 64 850, 97 Rover, 66 Deluxe, 66 Moke
81 Austin Estate, 2006 R53MCS, 66 Deluxe, 1978 Clubbie
2014 Land Rover Defender 90

825mm is the standard length, dayco 11A0825

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you could try undoing the top bracket, then radiator should move enough

Morris 1100 nailed it, attach it one blade at a time looping the belt through the gap and turning the fan a little.

It might help to loosen off the front cowling screws and the top bracket bolts to open up the cowling to fan gap a little.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Thanks for that,
I ended up buying 11A0815 as 825 looked a bit long :/ looks like i need to exchange it.

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http://www.flickr.com/by_dan
Current: 1970 Mini K 2014 Focus ST
Past: 93 Rover, 64 850, 97 Rover, 66 Deluxe, 66 Moke
81 Austin Estate, 2006 R53MCS, 66 Deluxe, 1978 Clubbie
2014 Land Rover Defender 90

So I managed to squeeze it past the rad with a lot of patience. But I can't for the life of me get the new belt passed the crank pulley. No matter what I do it won't go through. It seems one of the horizontal bolts on the bottom the shroud are preventing it going through. I've been at this for like half an hour now

Ergh

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Take out the two bolts on the bottom of the radiator mount. They fact towards the front of the car and have welded captive nuts on the other side, so easy to return.

This will allow you to get the space you need to get the belt through the gap.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

So I started to undo these, but they don't seem like they want to come out, and that there's a fair amount of pressure on them. Do you need to jack/support the engine to get the bolts out and then put them back in?

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You may need to move them around a little, but yes you will need to support the bottom of the gearbox as the engine mount is attached to the lower bracket.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

That makes sense, I got one out but then all the pressure was on the second bolt so it wasn't going anywhere. I'm done for the day so I'll stick a jack under the g'box tomorrow morning and hopefully will have more luck. I shouldn't be surprised but I didn't think a simple fan belt swap could cause so much grief!

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I wish I had some sort of witty quote in my signature

The next time you do it, it will only take an hour

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.