Billy Idle

Hi all, first post here & wish to share a surprising find when I re-checked a new t-belt installation.
Briefly, I have an 88 S4 MT Venetian Blue with 205km on the odo. I've had it 10 months & bought it from a Chev dealership "As-is," conditional on a positive PPI including leak down check & compression test from PFAFF Porsche in Toronto. No service history. They said "nice car, needs maintenance" Sold!

First thing I did at 201km; all fluids, motor mounts, complete t-belt & water pump service, all rollers & rebuilt the tensioner. Bought the aftermarket "kempf tool" to check the tension. 4000km later, I'm putting her away for the winter, I inspect the t-belt tension. I pull the covers & harmonic balancer off & notice the tensioner pulley/roller bearing seal has failed & the grease has started to leak out

Anyone else had this experience with a new tensioner pulley going bad? I guess that's it pays to check & re-tension a new belt after 1500 miles, but it was pure chance I noticed the bearing seal failure. I would not have spotted it by just removing the upper cover for a tension re-check. I noticed it because I had the balancer off to change a worn lower idler at the same time. I would have hoped the that quality of the OEM roller would have been a little better in the kit I ordered. Here's hoping you're all going to tell me it's an isolated case

Thx.

Mrmerlin

thats a strange event most of the ones i replace have slop on the shaft so the bearing has a wiggle to it ,
never saw a seal failure but have seen a few that were rusted.

blown 87

Was this a OE Porsche part? Or the OEM (supposedly) equivalent?

Not trying to stir up crap, just a question.

928 at last

Just out of local curiosity,
Who did the work? and where did you get the "Kit" from?
BTW, Welcome on board!

Landseer

Interesting find. Please say more.

Nice, clean installation, BTW!

Billy Idle

The roller was OEM & the kit was from 928 Specialists. I haven't spoken to them yet & I don't want to slag them off, it's my guess I just got a bad one.
I have an engineering background & I did the work myself. I got the the car as a project & as a summer toy. I have done all my own maintenance previously on VW/Audi including t-belt changes. Just completed the 2nd one one on my wife's Passat at 270km. Also did my previous daily driver '99 A8 4.2 & put an additional 60k on in it before I sold it, no issues. I wish the 928 had a tensioning setup like the A8.
Anyway, I feel very comfortable doing this work, which is why I was kind of surprised by what I saw.

Landseer

Well, they are professionals and will value your input.

You've got some skills. Save some more of these 928's if you can.

PorKen

You could put one from an A6 there...

Landseer

Billy,

Search on this site what we call the "Porkensioner".

928 at last

And, just in case Imre's lurking .......

928 at last

Would be that's it's a random issue, however, I went another route on the procedure,

Billy Idle

Thanks for the feedback guys. I definitely will consider the porkensioner/A6 mod while I have the front of the the engine off... again.

Billy Idle

Follow up post to failed pulley dilemma. The decision? I decided I'd like to install the PKtensioner, to avoid any future problems. So I spoke to Roger at 928srus, absolute great guy to deal with, & ordered the kit. Bent his ear for 45 min on the phone & received some great advice. Order was shipped that afternoon. Thanks again Roger!
After a little bit of a delay at customs, I just received today a shiny new PKtensioner & assorted 'bits.' Downloaded the install manual & hope to do the upgrade this weekend. Will take some pics & post.

Gavin.

Jon B.

Looking forward to the install. I'm about 100% sure I'm going the same route when I dive in to a TB/WP job on the car I am about to buy. I'd like to see what's involved with your pictures.

the flyin' scotsman

Welcome to the RList Gavin.........nice looking car.

When you install the Porkensioner you'll notice there's a few bolts etc that are no longer required including the lower idler............you can remove the entire assembly and put in with the OEM tensioner etc.