Got the whole Arnnworx kit new for a steal online today :-)

Im fairly confident working on stuff so I'll check it with the tensioner & if the 90 twist test feels right, I'll just throw it all back together.

Thanks for the great information everyone.

 

I have the ArnnWorx Maxi Kit also. You made a good decision. I recommend that you don't store the 920x with the calibration bar in place.

 

I bet most guys can get "close enough" by feel, after doing the belts a dozen times with the factory tool. Until you really get a feel for it, however, I bet most guys would over-tighten the balance shaft belt and under-tighten then camshaft belt if they went purely by instinct/feel. It's become a game for me -- I check the tension with my thumb and try to guess what the factory gauge will read. I'm not bad at guessing, but feel that I owe it to the motor and the Porsche Gods to confirm it with the factory tensioner. Never tried the ArnnWorx tool, but it certainly looks up to the task (and better than winging it...).

 

I have the Krikit tool. It sucks. When I used it I always overtightened the belts. I took many, many readings. Now I do the twist method.

 

I used the ArnnWorx tool but didn't like the feel of the belt so I used the twist method

 

I'm surprised how many people are doing it by feel. The 90-degree twist method can't be very consistent among people -- it all depends on how much force you use to get to 90, and there's no way to gauge/compare each person's subjective feel. There was a day when no one would do that, and I have to wonder if the failure rate is meaningfully different. Not saying it is, I just honestly wonder. If these were 12 cylinder Ferrari motors, I can't imagine people would be so quick to ignore a factory spec on something that could cause catastrophic engine failures. I wonder if people who have invested more time, money and effort in their motors, (cough, cough) are more likely to use a tensioner gauge? I have a pretty darn good feel for both the cam and b/s belt specs, but still confirm with a gauge -- just seems like a needless risk not to...

 

There are too many different tools to choose from, plus the fact that people have not been satisfied with the result after using the tools anyway. The correct way would be to use the real Porsche tool at around 600.00. I opt to use the hand method and will just replace the belts more often. I also run without the belt covers to keep an eye on things better, but I also use skid plates to help keep FOD from getting at the belts. I like to live on the edge, LOL
Van the man uses the hand method, thats what sold me.