Imjosh

Installed new timing belt, when I set the tension and then torque the nut to the recommended 33 ft-lbs (per clarks-garage) I can still move the tensioner.

It doesn't seem to move on it's own but if i put the 27mm wrench on it I can still move it. Again it doesnt seem to just flop around it just isnt 100% locked down like I would expect once torqued. I've marked it so i can watch for movement.

Is this normal/ acceptable? the last thing i want to do it over torque it and end up trying to fish stud out of the block.

marc abrams

If I'm not mistaking, there a washer that goes behind the tensioner and rollers. Beyond that I don't know what else to tell you.

FRporscheman

It could be that your nut is damaged and creating too much friction, so your torque wrench sees 33 ftlb before the nut is actually on enough. Maybe try a new locknut.

odonnell

About a year ago, Dougs951S and I were doing belts and this happened:
https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-...ner-studs.html

Tl;dr the stud was spinning in the block.

Imjosh

Thanks for the replies guys,

I marked the stud, nut, and tensioner so i can easlly keep an eye out for movement. I spun the motor over several times by hand and nothing moved. I went ahead and fired it up last night and still no movement. I've yet to take it for a drive waiting on the weather to clear up.

I'm cautiously optimistic that I'm being paranoid, it does take the wrench and effort to get it to move.

Jfrahm

I wouldn't drive it. I can't imagine how you'd see it move in time to prevent jumping time and crashing.

Imjosh

Update - should not have driven it.....

I drove it to work a couple of days this week probably well under 100 miles total. This morning I was out and I thought I heard a faint rattle it seemed to go away with RPMs. Went home pulled it in the garage and popped the hood to a timimg belt flopping all over the place.

My Christmas Miracle is that somehow it didn't jump time.

Moral of the story if you think it wrong and have to ask the interwebs if it's ok.... it's probably wrong.

V2Rocket

Drill it, tap it for a time-sert or helicoil, re-fit stud and go..
You are lucky that you caught it when you did !

neunfünfeins

Further evidence that most of the paranoia over dead-nuts timing belt tension, and $600 tensioning tools, are unwarranted