mortymower

should the balance belt tension roller actually deflect the belt at all or barely even touch it, how should that work

theedge

http://clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/eng-10.htm

Are you talking about the tensioner or idler? The idler should just touch it, no deflect it.

Chris Prack

No the idler should not touch the belt. The gap is something like 0.4mm IIRC. I do it by eye.

The distance is the same at both sides of the belt. Between the upper balance shaft gear and tensioner roller and at the lower balance shaft gear wheel.

mark944turbo

Yes it should touch the belt. The idler should deflect the belt very slightly as you sight down in. At least thats the way I always do it, no problems yet.

Chris Prack

You better break out your manual. It's only there for deflection not for the belt to ride on it.

jacklet

there is a gap but i don't remember what the belt should not touch

cruise98

The clearance is 0 - 1mm for the smooth roller.

You also have to have the proper clearance between the smooth roller and the belt on the balance shaft gear.

JohanvdWalt

In other words what this pic show is correct, it should be real close but not touch?

Also do all you guy's buy the tensioning tool or is there another method to check the tension?

future

Yes a half turn twist of the belt between two fingers with light pressure but you are better using the proper tool if you have never done this before. Do this before fitting the guide rollers you are talking about. Turn engine over with a 24mm socket with the plugs out and always start at TDC and lock the flywheel even though I no longer bother doing that as I simply leave the plugs in to hold some compression and then remove them afterwards to turn around/over.

Those 2 rollers are purely a guide to help eliminate belt slap and should not be touching when the engine is not running so the picture is correct and you only need to do this by eye in my experience.

The first time a changed the belts (like an idiot) I had those rollers pushing hard against the belt only to experience the loudest belt scream I've ever heard So it was a strip down again!

Listening by ear is also a viable option ... To tight and they will scream which will stretch them or worse SNAP! To loose and you could throw a belt but the balance shaft belts should not be as tight as the cam belt if that helps - You can also do away with the balance shaft belt altogether but risk breaking the oil pickup pipe unless reinforced which leads to oil starvation followed by a big bill!!!

eniac

The pic looks correct.

cruise98

The pic is correct on the top run of the belt, but not correct on the balance shaft gear itself. That smooth roller serves two functions, one to keep wow and flutter in check on the long run from the toothed roller, and two to keep the belt from crawling over the balance shaft gear and skipping a tooth or two or more.

This is an old thread! How long did it take to dig this up?