originalmotorhead

OK, I am sure this has been debated a few times and I've read through searches and I have come to no definate conclusion on which tool to buy. I found posts from a year ago where one guy had smoking belts after using the kricket cause they were too tight or something like that. One person said twist em both 90 degrees and you are good. etc....

I've got an 84 944 wth updated water pump and i just ordered all new belts, rollers, and new water pump so I need to choose a tool or find one for borrow in the Columbus, ohio area.

From my readings, it sounded as if you can safely use the 90 degree twist method for the balancer belt but for timing I would prefer to trust a tool. (Although I do set belt tension on Ducati's using the 'by feel' method and have great success with that)

Right now, I see these as the options:
1.)90 degree twist method
2.) porsche factory tool 9201 (big $$$$$$) but can do all belts, timing, ac, etc
3.) 920x little over a hundred bucks but only does timing and balance
4.) kricket(cricket)? - under hundred bucks, Says you can do all belts?

Looking for advice, horror stories, long term use, etc. If I am to buy a tool, would prefer to buy it once and be done.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

ibkevin

Plenty of experienced Renn wrenchers in the area, it can be done with the twist method. Set up a GTG and get a feel for the belt tension.

75ohm

Not sure what else you would need a tensioning tool for besides timing and balance... I have the 920x and it does both.

I've done the twist method and all the while I maintain that it is adequate, my OCD kicks in and I "have to know" that I've messed with the tension enough to satisfy the OCD.

robert944h

I have the 9201 and the kricket. Personally I would never use the kricket or the twist method on a 944. To me it's not work the risk of bending valves. I use the kricket for a/c and alt. on 911s. After seeing how sensitive the 9201 is I wouldn't feel comfortable using the other methods. I think most people that have acually used the 9201 would feel the same. I can't comment on the 920x I have never used it, but it seems to be a cheaper alternative.

joonas

I bought the krikit tool and only thing it did was make me worry more.

If you don't have original tool you start to worry. If you get the feel of twist method you can compare the tension with krikit reading.

http://clarks-garage.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1680

http://www.blaszakprecision.com/Belts.html

Getting the good reading is pretty hard.

ibkevin

The 9201 is really a two man job on a turbo car, take six readings and pick the two that you like.

If you're OCD, make sure all the screw slots on the house light switch plates are pointing the same direction and check door **** tension before leaving for work today. Really!

All other belts, measure the deflection.

The kricket just wastes space in your tool box.

75ohm

Up and down, at 90 degree angles to the top of the plate precisely, which is perfectly level.

yellowline

You take the lowest. You can make the reading artificially high, but never low.

Tony K

Optibelt vs. Krikit: Marketing.

theedge

Im going to get the 920X. The Kriket is "ok" and the 9201 is just too expensive to roll with my huge collection of hardly ever used/one use tools.

luckett

You can get a krikit from Napa for less than $10. I prefer it to the 9201 and it's the only thing I use.

BeerBurner

I've used both the Krikit and the 920x and I prefer the 920x. A lot. The instructions are pretty -ing when you first look at them, but they make a lot more sense when you actually start to use it.

BB.

87944turbo

And I thought I was the only who did this...

To your question, I use a combination of the 902x and twist. I do my best to get a feel for it, but like to verify it with numbers. There are plenty of listers in your area that could give you a hand with this. Between them, they probably have all of these tools, giving you the option to try before you buy.

Yummybud924

920x did not work for me. The calculations I got would give me a super loose belt which was obviously wrong. I emailed Bruce and he never emailed me back about it.

kricket works but it is not very reliable and probably not very accurate. according to my porsche mechanic I had gotten the timing belt very close to proper tension with the kricket.

the porsche tool? kind of expensive but might be worth it in the long run, as paying a shop to check the tension all the time will add up.

75ohm

Now that is peculiar... I've e-mailed too and had immediate responses...