measuring timing belt tension!

[Fonzy]

can someone enlighten me about the tool required for measureing the timing belt tension, and to what tension the belt should be.

[JAP BOY]

Im no expert fonz but i thought the 2s had atomatic tensioners

[Fonzy]

well kind of there is kind of a jockey wheel/pulley which is tentioned by a spring pulling it in, but im not sure that this sufficient because when i put the timing belt on i had to give this pulley a bit of a shove to tention the belt enough for it to ride correct in all the groves, so i gave it the required shove then tightened the bolt in the middle of this pulley so that its infact not possible to move anymore, thus leaving that spring redundant!

[JJ]

Release the tensioner to push the tensioner pulley / jockey wheel.. the rating is in the spring of the tensioner - no worries !! Only if you've set the cam timing up wrong, then it all has to come off again.

[Fonzy]

hi JJ as above didnt seem to be enough tention untill i gave the spring a helping hand after which i tightened the nut again and done a few full turns of the cranks and all seemed well and re-aligned perfect!

[Fonzy]

i was slightly concerned that the cam pulleys (tru time) are differnet and therefor require a different set up!

[JJ]

after which i tightened the nut again

which nut are you talking about, the timing tensioner pulley should swing without issues and only when the nut is tight, its aligned correctly.

There is usually a washer behind the timing tensioner pulley holding down bolt to raise the swinging action away from the timing back plate.

If you say you've bolted it directly up against the head without a washer, you need to take it back off as you will simply bolting the tensioner pulley against the back plate where its not free to swing.

[Fonzy]

damn i confused my self! ok here goes! there is a (bolt) not nut (my mistake) through the pulley, the pulley is rotating freely at this point although i have tightened the bolt in the middle so that it no longer swings. Is this wrong?

[JJ]

damn i confused my self! ok here goes! there is a (bolt) not nut (my mistake) through the pulley, the pulley is rotating freely at this point although i have tightened the bolt in the middle so that it no longer swings. Is this wrong?

it should swing james.. check to see if the washer is actually smaller than the end of the pulley tensioner ( head end / where it bolts into the head ).

If you can imagine where it bolts up to the head, the (head)end of the bracket..... its has a small area where if you had a small washer fitted, its allowed to swing back and forth, then theres the bracket area where if your washer is wide enough, it'll catch the bracket as well when your bolting up... creating friction against the bracket and the pulley - pulley won't swing.

The pulley needs to swing and the tensioner keeps it in check !

Clear as mud

was slightly concerned that the cam pulleys (tru time) are differnet and therefor require a different set up!

Shouldn't affect it !

[Fonzy]

hmmmm can this be checked with engine in the car?

[Fonzy]

i get what your saying JJ but just to make it crystal, u are telling me that no matter how tight i do up the bolt through the middle of the pulley it should still swing! if its gripping so it doesnt swing it mean the washer is missing!

[JJ]

u are telling me that no matter how tight i do up the bolt through the middle of the pulley it should still swing! if its gripping so it doesnt swing it mean the washer is missing!

I can put 70nm of torque on the bolt and the tensioner pulley will still swing ! There shouldn't be any hinderance on it whatso ever.

I can see your problem, the ruddy engine mounts in the way !! If you can support the engine from the sump, and remove the engine mount.. should be far easier... having said that, I'm sure its still possible to remove the tensioner pulley without removing the engine mount.

Definitely need to sort it out, because if its not been mounted with a washer, then the pulley is sitting at a partail angle and what that will do is make the timing belt run off so the belt runs towards the engine and starts to rip the belt apart.

Bite the bullit, remove the belt and inspect the timing tensioner fully, ensure its working without any problems and its swinging without any issues.

If its not right.. think of the consequences... 16 bent valves ?, damaged pistons, damaged rod bearings / engine back out and yet further money !

[Fonzy]

Hi JJ i have seen how ive gone wrong, i have a 5fse blcok remember and looking at the online manual the tentioners are working differently!
On the 5fse i should locate the tentioner as far to the left as possible then tighten the bolt, ensure its swinging freely then fit the spring to pull it in, then fit the belt, i done this, only i didnt pull the pulley to the left as far as it can go! thus not getting the correct tention! doh! i wonder how many more 5fse and 3sgte mistakes ive made!

[Fonzy]

how on earth do people refit the belt without removing the lower belt cover, crank and pulley.

[JJ]

crack on no. 1 !

[Fonzy]

is that suggesting im gonna get a crack on cylinder no 1 or just telling me to get on with it!

[JJ]

You know its hard work, but the returns from it will make you think its all worth it. !!

Just take your time building it... don't rush it, give you plenty of time to think what you have and havent done.

We're only human chap !

[Fonzy]

Thanks JJ i just dont want to be the kind of human stupid enough to put close to 10k in the toilet!

[JJ]

Thanks JJ i just dont want to be the kind of human stupid enough to put close to 10k in the toilet!

Hells bells, people do it every day with depreciation on the "prestige" cars !! lol !!

Typical - Jag XJR Supercharger - close to 55k+ new, 8 years later, 4k !! thats over 6K per year for just sitting there, let alone repair bills !

So the 5k budget went right out the window !! - mixed on that, I saw that a mile off !!

[Fonzy]

i can honestly say the budget was forgoten about a long time ago, but i am sure it was cheaper than buying in the uk, assuming its all ok of course!
Im sure you know how i feel, but, im just sitting around waiting for this and that and $hitting myself at the same time, i keep getting this re-occuring thought, of turning the key and it running fine for a few minutes then crack