Just curious if any of you who measure with a tool could describe how the proper tension translates subjectively.

It's been so long since I ran a balance shaft belt that I can't recall roughly how tight it is supposed to be ... should it be somewhat easy to fully twist it once around? I remember it being specified a bit looser than intuition would initially find acceptable. It's a (lightly) used belt. I've done five 944 timing+balance belt changes, but it's been so long I just want to double check my senses.

In fact, if someone just had some quantitative, non-P9201-unit figures (all I saw on Clark's) on how tight the timing and balance belts should be that'd be awesome.

'86 951

 

Just did my belts this winter. As you said, the balance belt seems too loose when tensioned correctly. I first did it by feel and then checked it with an Optibelt (similar to Krikit) tool which I purchased from Markus Blaszak. I did not try twisting it 180 degrees as I didnt want to break any belt cords. I went by the deflection in the longest span of belt and then by how easily I could slide the belt back and forth on the upper bal. shaft drive gear. I had made a mental note of these settings during disassembly. The measurement with the optibelt tool should be 28 pounds. When I checked it was between the 28 and 30 pound marks. I didn't try to readjust and left it at that. Seems to be working fine. I don't know if this helps, but I have 1000kms (600 miles) on the car now and all is well. Will probably recheck tensions in another month or so.

 

Thanks