Hi there all-

I was reading some threads earlier today about problems with a balance shaft belt and came across the information that there is a preferred orientation for the eccentric tensioner of the balance shaft belt. This was total news to me and I hope someone can explain to me the reasoning.

From what I understand from what I read, you want the "fat" part of the tensioner pointed toward the bottom of the engine. I just went out to my car to check how I did it when I set up the tension and, sure enough, it's pointed the other way.The gaps between the belt and other rollers look to be OK.

Can someone clarify the thinking on getting this orientation to be a certain way? I read up a bit on Clark's Garage but couldn't find anything calling this out, apart from the picture showing the belt arrangement.

I'll redo things if I have to but I'm looking for some understanding around the "why" of things.

Thanks

 

The FSM specifies the tensioner to be tightened clockwise.

 

the idler will never get the proper clearance in both places with the tension adjuster in the improper position,

 

@thomasmryan : I just went back out and retensioned things clockwise and I think that you're correct. What I thought was right with respect to the clearances for the idler roller was more than likely not. I need to find my feeler gauges... Thankfully, it didn't seem to affect the timing of the balance shafts so that's not something I have to redo.

Thanks y'all

 

it would be nice if the front cover was designed to get a visual on the lower notch with the upper cover removed.

 

I got you thinking in that last post, huh?

If you go counter clockwise you'll lift the belt up along the idler side towards the water pump and the eccentric will be up. It will tension but likely be away from the idler (if that is in its correct position).

 

If you tension it the wrong way, you can get close enough on the specs to think you're good, but the belt ends up too close the plastic cover and in the worst case can end up rubbing.

 

Clockwise for the balance belt tensioner, counter clockwise for the timing belt tensioner.

 

There should be a plastic plug that can be removed on the lower cover so you can see the notch.

 

there is a hole there but it is for lilliputians.

 

@Perry 951 : I spend a lot of time reading to prepare myself for this kind of work, as it's, generally speaking, the first time I've done it and I'm on my own most of the time for this work. So, it was a huge surprise to read that; I'd never come across that particular bit of the process.

Trying to retrace my thought process with the wrong orientation, I read the specs to mean that I needed at least 0.5 mm above the lower sprocket and so with the tension set that way, there was way more than that amount of space. The only upper limit spec that I'd read about was for the upper roller deflection so I thought I was good to go.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for their help with this. I should have the engine back together this coming weekend, fingers crossed, and I'll see what things are like.

Cheers