Old style timing belt tensioner?

[jolotter]

I don't have the proper tool for the timing belt tensioner.  I made one out of a piece of hardwood and a couple of nails.  But I have a vague memory of replacing the timing belt on my 84 gasser rabbit (non-interference, thankfully.)  I think it had flats on it for turning with a wrench.  Is there a tensioner like that that would work on the TD?

Johann

[mk2diesel]

nope ... just the 2 pins as you have now

[Vincent Waldon]

AFAIK early gassers had a tensioner you could use a wrench on.. but everything else, including all diesels, uses the two pins.

First "special VW tool" I ever bought... 10 bucks... although I've seen people bend the outer prongs on an old fork and have it work fine.  Pair of right-angle snap-ring pliers will do it, and there's the oldie but goodie... board and two nails !!!


Vince

[burn_your_money]

They stopped using the ones with flats for a reason, it was too easy to go too tight and break the belt.

I just do it by hand using a scribe or a nail or something pointy. You don't need a lot of tension at all

[jolotter]

I tension it until I can't turn it past 45 deg. between cam and IP pulleys.  It seemed pretty tight when I was cranking it up.  More than I could do with just a scribe or a nail...

Johann

[jolotter]

Wow! You guys tension it way less than I have done.  It's a good thing I haven't started the engine yet.  Turning it so you can't twist it past 45 deg. makes it  really tight.  I'll back off a bit on the adjustment.  Is there no danger of it jumping a tooth if it's under lowere tension?

Johann

[silvertdi]

uh oh.  Mine is too tight.  Good info.  I didn't have the plunger tool my Bentley called for so I tightened it to "feel".  Looks like I better go back and do some rework. :?

[Vincent Waldon]

At the risk of sounding like we are discussing the nuances of Revelations on the Old Time Gospel Hour:

In my Bentley Andrew's quote is from section 4.2 which states at the top of the page  "4.2 Camshaft Drive Belt (except diesel engines)"... and a couple of sentences later says: "Diesel camshaft drive belt replacement can be found in FUEL SYSTEM-DIESEL" which is section 5.

Within section 5, section 5.4 Camshaft/Injection Pump Drive Belt says:

NOTE-

An approximate measure of belt tension can be made without a tension gauge by twisting the belt by hand. At the center between the injection pump sprocket and the crankshaft sprocket, if the belt can be twisted 45° but no further, it is tensioned correctly.


So... my Bentley says that everything is 90 degrees EXCEPT 16V and diesel which are 45 degrees.

Now, having said that:  the numbers given on the "special VW tension tool" are exactly the same for gassers and diesels (12-13) which is very strange.

Me personally:  I like the 90 degrees... given that the special tension tool numbers are the same, and I'd rather not wear out my pump or intermediate shaft bearings (they will wear out fast enough all on their own thank you very much).  Given how deep the teeth on the belt  are I'm not overly worried about the thing skipping with a 90 degree twist.... never had one hop yet.

Just what I do..... ymmv !!!

Just for laughs, when I get home tonight I'll check with what the Gospel According to A1s and the Gospel According to A3s says... might clear up a printing error in the A2 bible.


Vince

[Gearhead]

My tensioner has flats.  It takes a big wrench... like 26MM or in the range of 1-1/8" or so.  It is a new tensioner purchased 5mos ago from Roy Rogers auto parts in Memphis, TN, and I don't recall who made it.  I made sure I got that one, because even though I work in the automotive tool industry, and I can get any tool on the cheap,  I don't want to buy a special wrench when one I have will work.  I'm currently tensioned between 45 and 90 degrees.  So far so good, but I'm the new guy here, so don't take that as gospel.

[burn_your_money]

when I do a belt it's usually pretty close to 90 degrees. I know my friend over tightened his t-belt (a gasser thankfully) and the belt broke within 30 miles.

[jimfoo]

I used the belt tension tool, then twisted the belt. I couldn't turn it 90 degrees, it was more like 60.

[Baxter]

I tighten them till they feel right.
Never broke owt.
Done hundreds.

Same as taper wheel bearing, you just do it till it feels right, sort of.

I think it's one of those mechanics things.

[Vincent Waldon]

I still believe the 45° comment is a misprint.  That amount of tension will cause the tensioner to screech including the bearing problems I mentioned previously.

Vincent, what page are you finding the VW special tool tension readings?

Bear in mind that the diesel has an injection pump and so the tension is read in a much shorter segment of belt.  Regardless, I don't use and haven't used the "twist the belt" reading as an measure of tension.  I find it highly subjective and a very inaccurate way to gauge belt tension.

Andrew

Totally agree...  not sure I would use 45 degrees if I had a 16V let alone a diesel.

In my A2 Bentley the special tool comment is just above the note quoted above... it says:

5.   Tension the drive belt. Loosen the tensioner locknut and turn the tensioner clockwise, using a spanner wrench as shown in Fig. 5-13. The tension gauge shown, Volkswagen special tool no. VW210 (order no. TV0 210 000 00 ZEL) should read between 12 and 13.

I just got an A3 Bentley and it lists the 90 degree method for the gasser (with a special tool reading of 12-13 clicks) but only lists the special tool reading of 12-13 clicks for the diesel.. the text about "approximately twisting 45 degrees" is noticeably absent.

Can't find my A1 manual for a third reference.... musta lent it to someone.

Bottom line:  probably best to get the special tool... otherwise 90 degrees seems to work for lots of us.. those with calibrated fingers !!