PorKen T-Belt Tensioner: Genius at Work
#1
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PorKen T-Belt Tensioner: Genius at Work
I just spent the most interesting evening with Porken (Inventor of the Porkensioner and other ingenious 928 parts). And I had the honor of being one of the first to see his new automatic belt tensioner in 32-Valve action AND DRIVE the great White Shark equipped with this creative and well crafted invention....an idea that Dr. Porsche should have implemented in 1992. Porsche did it successfully with the 968...and other cars used the auto belt tensioner...but it was only when Porken scratched his head and said, "Heck, I can do better than washers in oil!" And he has. Although still in beta testing on his very red interior and cool RMB shark...humming along without the T-belt covers...running straight and true....and a work of mechanical art. I saw it with my own eyes. I marvel at talent like his. It's beautiful work. He has more than a couple of thousand miles with this advanced system on his 16-valve 928...and over a 100 miles (in just the last few days) running the '86.5 32-valve version. I stared in amazement that the guy had enough guts to build something like that and put it on his interference engine (32 valves at over a $100 each?)...confident that it would work. Admittedly, this kind of work is not for the faint of heart.
And when I drove the car, I didn't "baby it" around the streets but goosed it hard. It runs as smooth as a Railroad Watch. He keeps analyzing the new system and testing different settings trying to visualize how it might be made even better. I'm hoping that the break-in and final testing period will soon be over and that he will produce these for sale. Our belt-tensioning days would pretty well be over.
Some people just have a knack for designing things. John Browning was the best in designing guns...and Porken may yet find his place among Porsche afficionados as being one of the great 928 after-market parts "enhancement gurus" Plus...Porken is just a great guy. He downplays the importance of what he's just accomplished.
Today, several guys are paving new ground and creating some cool new stuff for our cars. I hope our support for them will grow and it will be worth their while and that they can recoup their many hundreds of hours of design work. We all can win.
BTW, while Porken is working to resolve the T-belt tension issues...why don't one of you others figure out a quick and easy way to test for Thrust Bearing Tension issues? To do this would revitalize the market for the auto transmission cars. I could never do it. In fact, with my luck, if I ever went into business selling hats, tomorrow's kids would be born without heads.
Harvey
Still searching for another pristine shark to buy.
Help me sell my 968 and I'll be able to buy an even newer 928!
And when I drove the car, I didn't "baby it" around the streets but goosed it hard. It runs as smooth as a Railroad Watch. He keeps analyzing the new system and testing different settings trying to visualize how it might be made even better. I'm hoping that the break-in and final testing period will soon be over and that he will produce these for sale. Our belt-tensioning days would pretty well be over.
Some people just have a knack for designing things. John Browning was the best in designing guns...and Porken may yet find his place among Porsche afficionados as being one of the great 928 after-market parts "enhancement gurus" Plus...Porken is just a great guy. He downplays the importance of what he's just accomplished.
Today, several guys are paving new ground and creating some cool new stuff for our cars. I hope our support for them will grow and it will be worth their while and that they can recoup their many hundreds of hours of design work. We all can win.
BTW, while Porken is working to resolve the T-belt tension issues...why don't one of you others figure out a quick and easy way to test for Thrust Bearing Tension issues? To do this would revitalize the market for the auto transmission cars. I could never do it. In fact, with my luck, if I ever went into business selling hats, tomorrow's kids would be born without heads.
Harvey
Still searching for another pristine shark to buy.
Help me sell my 968 and I'll be able to buy an even newer 928!
#3
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I have a feeling that in a few years we will be telling people they need a porkensioner just like we tell em now to get a kempf tool. great work!
#4
Nordschleife Master
Airflite,
I am definately thinking the same thing! It will probably be written about in 3-4 years in the 928 buyers guides that are published in the porsche magazines
I am definately thinking the same thing! It will probably be written about in 3-4 years in the 928 buyers guides that are published in the porsche magazines
#5
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How exactly does it work? Looks awesome. One of these days I'll be sending Ken a big check for one of each of his products.
#6
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Originally Posted by Hacker-Pschorr
How exactly does it work? Looks awesome. One of these days I'll be sending Ken a big check for one of each of his products.
#7
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Andrew,
The Porkensioner isn't available yet, is it?
Anybody got any idea when it will be available or how much this peace of mind is going to cost?
The Porkensioner isn't available yet, is it?
Anybody got any idea when it will be available or how much this peace of mind is going to cost?
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#9
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It looks very good, it would nice to be able to test it to failure, maybe rig an electric motor with a timer and something to vary the belt pressure so the tensioner has to constantly adjust.
#10
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Porken - FWIW I'll be taking apart my track car this winter for modifications to prepare the motor for a supercharger (ripping off CIS - in favor of EFI). If you have a 79 tensioner ready somtime before March, I'll take one.
#11
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Thanks Harvey! I didn't realize you were taking notes.
Harvey was in Portland for a few days, and I asked him via the PacNW928 group to stop by and see if my 86 was running well. I think he was jealous of the ABS (which his '85 lacks), because he was on the verge of using it driving around the block.
Earlier in the day I had finished installing all new temp sensors, Idle Control Valve, plus full tune up parts from a few days ago. The car ran so well, I had to have a RMB, right now, so I had my local muffler shop fab one up - with some coaching by me.
Anyway, Harvey gave the car a thumbs up, so I was happy.
BTW: the interior in Harvey's post is from the registry, mine is a bit more red (and dirty).
The exit angle isn't exactly what I wanted, but they were doing a pretty good job (for $50), and I didn't want them to get confused. I'll fix it later with some bigger tips. With the big factory dual resonators, and true dual exhaust on the 86.5, the exhaust did not get much louder, at all. A little bit of a grumble, in place of tomb quiet. I was happily surprised.
Harvey was in Portland for a few days, and I asked him via the PacNW928 group to stop by and see if my 86 was running well. I think he was jealous of the ABS (which his '85 lacks), because he was on the verge of using it driving around the block.
Earlier in the day I had finished installing all new temp sensors, Idle Control Valve, plus full tune up parts from a few days ago. The car ran so well, I had to have a RMB, right now, so I had my local muffler shop fab one up - with some coaching by me.
Anyway, Harvey gave the car a thumbs up, so I was happy.
BTW: the interior in Harvey's post is from the registry, mine is a bit more red (and dirty).
The exit angle isn't exactly what I wanted, but they were doing a pretty good job (for $50), and I didn't want them to get confused. I'll fix it later with some bigger tips. With the big factory dual resonators, and true dual exhaust on the 86.5, the exhaust did not get much louder, at all. A little bit of a grumble, in place of tomb quiet. I was happily surprised.
Last edited by PorKen; 11-18-2006 at 12:36 AM.
#12
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Yep, Ken is da man when it comes to generally useful advances to the state of 928 technology. Others have done more whiz-bang advancements, like Sterling, DR, Murph, Carl, etc but Ken is in a class by himself.
#13
Fleet of Foot
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Ken, I know this has probably been discussed in the other thread, but how are you dealing with the belt tension warning circuitry on the 32 valvers?
#14
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No need for it -- belt breaks, engine stops.
Seriously, it's self-adjusting so IMHO you would only get a warning 3 minutes after the belt broke anyway...
Seriously, it's self-adjusting so IMHO you would only get a warning 3 minutes after the belt broke anyway...
#15
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I'm aware of the 3-minute timeout, but it is a seriously irritating little annoyance to have to cancel a "belt tension warning" every time you start the car. I have a suspicion Ken is grounding the wire somewhere, but just would like to know for sure.