PorKen

I always assumed that the belt should be in the middle, but I was looking through the WSM, and the pictures show the belt about ⅛" (3mm) from the front of the gear, 16 and 32V. All the pics I could find on Rennlist show approx. the same, unless there is a problem. Worn crank gear, worn bushings, wonky water pump, etc.

Where's yours sit? Pics too, if ya got 'em. (Multi-choice for multi-owners, one choice per car.)

icsmike

oops i meant 3mm from front.

Mike B

ttt

PorKen

I finally did my new 86.5, yesterday, and the tensioner was bone dry, and stuck. The arm bushings were worn, the pulley had play in it, and you can see inside the cup of the tensioner arm, that the tensioner has been twisting the arm (pulley towards the engine). The belt was riding about 3mm from the back, but now rides about 2.5mm from the front.

I think the crank gear has a bit more wear at the front from the twist, and now that's where the belt wants to go? The belt doesn't vary, and isn't trying to move forward, so I think it's OK, but I'll probably replace it. The cam and oil pump gears are in good shape, no shiny spots.

the flyin' scotsman

Ken..........I voted centre as thats where I put the new belt when installing your tensioner.

I've looked occaisionally through the vent holes since the install but as the belt was good and true never paid much attention as to its exact position.

I'll try to take pics.

the flyin' scotsman

hi Mike...........scheduling a meet soon..........hope the holidays were well

IcemanG17

Mine is about the 3mm from the front edge.....the few belts I've seen seem to track somewhere between that point and almost to the forward edge of the cam gear?

Stromius

I snapped a couple of pics with my TB adjustment (and thanks to J. Kempf of course). I'd swear I'm near the leading edge of the timing mark or is it trailing. Anyway..here's a pic.

the flyin' scotsman

ok........here's the pics (new belt, porken tentioner, 3k kms or so):

PorKen

Nice pics, Malcolm. I don't think my camera could get that.

IIRC, at some point, for S4s, the crank gear was made 1mm wider? I have searched in vain for the posting. Anyhu, that would put the belt even closer to the front, with a worn gear?

Lizard928

I have put all new gears on my car, and others, they all always seem to run about 3mm from the front.

Garth S

On several different cars from '80 to '89, all run ~3mm from the front of the gear after being well run in.

AO

Yep... ~3mm from the front edge fro me too.

LT Texan

mine was riding right on the front edge. I didnt like that.

Mike Frye

+1, my gears had been all worn, and after the replacement, I tried to center it and it just seems to like riding just forward of center, not at the edge, but close.