Freelander L314, does anyone know how to do the timing belt without using the flywheel locking.

Hi all my friends L series Freelander is a bugger to get to the flywheel locking hole as the water pipe into the block is in the way and a bugger to get a spanner to. is there a way of doing the belt without the locking of the flywheel. Can i get piston one to the top and lock it through starter motor hole somehow then line up the cam mark and go from there. Appreciate the infinite wisdom of the group

If you're using drill bits as locking tools - you could drill through the pipe

Yeh, maybe not such a good suggestion.

The timing belt is the only job I send my L Series to a garage to get done. So not much help I'm afraid. Everything I read though says to use the locking tools, including locking the injection pump.

Pin cam/inj pump then mark flywheel/crank another way?