rcarpen22

I'm doing belts on my '86 this weekend and was wondering if anyone in the Columbia, SC area has a belt tensioner they might be willing to loan. There could be some beer involved and I would appreciate it greatly.
Thanks,
Rob

stonecreek

You can safely install the belt without the tool. Grab the belt with your thumb and fore finger and twist it to 90 deg. Remember tight is tight to tight is broke, dont try with all your might to twist the belt. Twist the old one before you remove it to get the feel. Porsche didnt use the tool untill belts started to fail and the failing belts were old not tensioned wrong, just a company overreacting to a problem IMHO. While you are at it you may want to replace the rollers and the water pump, waterpumps like to fail after a belt change.

Anyway I have replaced 6-7 belts in my porsches and a few friends no problems.


Good Luck.

Jeremy Himsel

Yeah I agree, there’s no need for that silly tool to only adjust a timing belt, the thumb and 90 degree twist method is much better then borrowing the correct tool. It’s only a belt right? Porsche is known for over engineering without a reason. Look at those useless, boat anchor, balance shafts the used on our engines. I’m sure you can tell the difference between 4.0, 2.7 or 2.0 on your retension as well (provided your fingernail is appropriately clipped). I also have never used a torque wrench when doing a head gasket. My method is to tighten the head nuts just until you can feel the stud strip in the block and then back it off a ¼ turn. It’s much better then buying a $150 wrench.

evil 944t

I only use a couple lug nuts on each wheel. I think five is to many.

rcarpen22

I have a new water pump, rollers, seal kit, timing and balance belts, and accessory belts so it should be a fun weekend. It will be my first attempt at the front end service so hopefully all will go well. I have most of the Clark's Garage web site printed out ready to go.

rcarpen22

No one?

shmark

FWIW I did my timing belt recently and used the twist method. Then I borrowed a tension gauge from a friend and checked it - 3.8 close enough! I also checked the balance shaft belt because it seemed ridiculously loose, but it was 2.7 right on spec. Yeah the difference is huge and now I know, but having gauge taught me better than guessing.

stonecreek

Whatever, but if you can't install simple timing belt without a tension tool you need to stay away from engines.

hosrom_951

BTW: The "twising" method is considered pre-tensioning the belt. I got the Kriket tool ($20) and after i tension the belt, i am having the shop check it with the 9201 tool. Should se just how accurate it really is.....

shmark

Nice. I won't get into my experience but having the tool confirmed my setting was correct the first time, not having done a 944 timing belt before. A quicker way to learn.

Jfrahm

The 90 degree twist is for the Balance shaft belt, 45 for a timing belt. But what do I know, I have a 9201 :-)

-Joel.

Ian Carr

the kriket tool works and is cheap... but it is the BIGGEST PAIN EVER unless you have done it 30000000 times... took two of us to get it right after like a hour or so of trying... make sure your spark plugs are in...!

-Ian

pk951

I have been changing TB on VW deisels for a number of years, tdi which are easery to do than 93 model year. I would go with the twist method if you have a bit of experence with the feel for how tight the belt is once it is adjusted it.

On the head gasket use a torque wrench.

rcarpen22

I don't trust myself to get the tension right by feel. If I can't find a tool to borrow or rent I will probably get it as close as I can by feel and either drive it or tow it over to a shop and let them do a re-tension.