wombat7

I just bought an 944, and plan on doing the maintanence on it as i have on all my other cars. I was wondering if there was an alternative to the Porsche factory tensioning tool.. I really do not want to spend $500 on a tool that i will only use once every couple of years. If there are equivalents, how do they compare to the factory one?

PorscheDoc

there is a kricket tool for about 30 bucks i think, that can be picked up at NAPA

ribs

Kriket works well...I had to order mine over the internet as every napa I called had no idea what I was talking about. 5000 miles and one retension later, and the car still runs well using the $14 alternative to the $500 9201.

wombat7

do you have the link to the site where you got yours?? i can't find anywhere that has one..

BruceWard

You can buy them online at http://www.hmc-international.com/krikit.htm or from NAPA or Oriellys.

The P9201 is closer to $350 from Sunset, or you can rent them from Zims for >$100.

IceShark

The Kricket is only about $10 from NAPA. I paid $10.61. Just tell them it is the KR-1 tool. All the stores can get them as it is made by Gates. Frankly, it is sort of a POS tool. You will do as well with your finger and twist method. But, it gives you some comfort, I guess.

If you have read my neverending engine bay wash job you know I have charged into the belts. If you want my kricket you can have it for $5 plus 2 shipping. May as well go down to NAPA and buy it for $11 plus tax.

seb928s

Yea I don't like it after using it. I used the twist method before and had no problems. The kricket is very hard to get the same reading twice and just more of a pain. Bought mine from Napa for around 15$

BeerBurner

I had an opportunity to buy the factory tensioner tool for $200, but didn't have the cash at the time. I knew I'd regret it.

How long have people been using the kriket? I wouldn't mind getting one, but I'd like for it to have been used for a couple of years first in order to get all of the bugs out.

BB.

wombat7

What is the twist method that y'all are talking about?? i'm new to the car, i won't pick mine up until wednesday...

Joe Jackson

Find someone local who owns a P9201 if you actually want to know what your belt tension is. I've yet to come across anything as accurate or repeatable (some may disagree though). If you were closer to DE I'd let you borrow mine or do it for you as I have with others. I refuse to ship it though.

Joe Jackson

And in my opinion, the twist method is like using a tape measure to measure shaft play on a turbo (instead of using a dial indicator). You may get in the ballpark, but you'll have to get lucky to do so.

For those unfamiliar with proper 944 belt tension, using the twist method is asking for some bent valves.

ahofam123

My neighbor who is a ferrari mechanic tensioned my belts by hand. If you know what you are doing, go ahead and trust your hand, if not, borrow the 9201 or get the krikit. After removing the upper idler, I found that the krikit was easy to use and got the same results 18 out of the 20 times that I had tested it.

ahofam123

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that you have to use the krikit on the teeth of the belt. Using it between the teeth may produce the inaccuracies that some have experienced.

83na944

Try this website: http://www.arnnworx.com/tensioning_belts.htm.

You'll also need a pin spanner for the balalnce shafts and a thin wrench for the idlers.

Porsche-O-Phile

The "twist" method is just rotating or twisting the belt at mid span. If you can just twist it 90 degrees to its normal orientation then that's supposedly about the right tension. Some use 9201, some use Krikit, some do it "by feel", some do the twist method, some use the "twang" sound even from what I've heard. I guess it's what you're comfortable with.