maint

Noticed my BB was occasionally touching the waterpump pulley so thought I had better check it. Re-reading my notes I found a discrepancy. Looking at the factory manual it seems the idler should clear the belt at the tensioner by .020" and, at least it seems to me, deflect the long run of the BB up by .004" (1mm).
Reading different threads it seems most people leave a small gap between the idler and the belt on the long run. Currently the gap on the long run is, by all accounts, too large anyways. Any definitive answer on this? Is it supposed to touch or clear?

1987 924S

Van

At about the 5:00 mark, I show how I set the balance shaft belt idler:

maint

I watched your video when I did the belts because it is so clear. The problem comes when I look closely at the drawing in the manual. It shows two 'belts' coming off the top pulley; one goes 'into/through' the idler while the other goes ontop before going to bottom pulley. I read that as the belt is lifted up 1mm (.004").
Almost everyone appears to agree with you but I can't help thinking the manual, vague as it is, says to lift it. Wish I knew how to attach the manual picture so I could show you what I mean. Either way is better than what I have now.

maint

Just re reading the ArnnWorx manual that came with their Tensioner tool and they also say it is clearance so I'll bow to the majority as it's tough to argue with what is working.
Still don't like that drawing though!