Author Topic: timing belt tention without vw 210 (Read 9937 times)

mufflerbearing · « **on:** April 10, 2008, 04:41:58 pm »

without special tool vw210, how far do i tension the belt? is there a certian amount it should deflect or twist between the cam and pump sprockets?

thanks!

truckinwagen · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2008, 04:46:36 pm »

I think its just shy of 90 degrees, but you should check against a manual.

mufflerbearing · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2008, 05:08:19 pm »

manual has no spec for twisting the belt, only for using vw210. i have it just shy of 90* right now, but i want to double (and tripple) check before i start it.

thanks!

-j

truckinwagen · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2008, 05:15:14 pm »

my haynes manual says 90 degrees is the approved spec, but I like just shy of that for good measure.

Possum79 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2008, 05:45:33 pm »

I was wondering the same thing. The manual only gives the vw210 measurement for my 79 1.5l but the different motors give the twist way to do it.

jackbombay · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2008, 05:45:47 pm »

It really does not need to be tight, just "not loose". I have done Tbelts on older 1.6's that were so loose they were slapping the underside of the timing belt cover and the car ran fine otherwise, belt never slipped.

If you pull up and down on the belt while you fiddle with teh tensioner wrench you can get a decent feel for how much tension you are putting on the belt, with a good twist you should be able to get it to go 90* as others have said.

Possum79 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2008, 05:59:05 pm »

Andrew have you ever used or know someone who has used this harbor freight belt tool?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96557

Is it supposed to be equivalent to the VW210?

Quantum TD · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2008, 07:11:48 pm »

For the diesels, I say 45 degrees. Thats what Bentley recommends for the 16v, and the belt is the same width. The 90 degrees only applies to 8v motors.

I have the tool, and when I'm done, it finishes at about 45-55 degrees. Before I had the tool, I'd do the same (45-55). I wouldn't go 90. That seems a bit excessive.

jackbombay · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2008, 07:39:42 pm »

Quote from: "libbybapa"

Too loose and it can jump time.

After wrenching on my friends that was so loose it was hitting the underside of the T-belt cover (ding ding ding ding at a rate of a couple dings a second) I can say it would have to be so insanely loose to actually skip a tooth. The belt moved up and down about 1/2", yea, a 1/2" of slack :shock:

His was a caddy that had sat for 10 years, then he put a few thousand miles on it, and then I moved back to town and checked it out for him. The T-belt was so old/worn/rotten that I tore it only using my thumbs and forefingers, it tore like damp cardboard, really. It really opened my eyes as to how weak a T-belt can be and still work fine, not that I would ever intentionally let one go that far, but I would not have expected a belt in that condition could keep an engine together.

mufflerbearing · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2008, 11:47:32 pm »

the way i have it now, if i really reef on it i can get it close to 90. seems tight enough to be to keep the belt from skipping.

im just a little paranoid of having it skip a tooth, or two... heres what happened when the previous owner didn't tighten the belt enough:

thanks for all the replies!

-j

boxer246 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2008, 07:47:12 am »

Yeah I'm not sure why everyone is saying to twist the belt 90 deg.......that is incorrect according to the Bentley manual. I understand the Haynes manual might say something different, but me personally there's only one place for the Haynes manual and thats in the trash.

Quote from Bentley:
"An appropriate 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 camshaft sprocket, if the belt can be twisted 45 deg, but no further, it is tensioned correctly."

Now I know not everything in these manuals can be taken for absolute literal, and Andrew makes good point about this tension being a bit subjective, depending on if you are Arnold Schwarznegger or Pee Wee Herman, so you have to use your best judgement.

I just wanted to make sure we're getting the right info out here.

oldskool rich · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2008, 08:05:01 am »

how much force should you use to twist the belt? surly if you wer strong enough or used mole grippers you could twist any belt 90deg dont meen to sound argumentative but what my sister cud twist 45 i cud probly turn 90, my mate does engine conversions he alway just makes sure it cant twist more than 90, but its not an exact science

boxer246 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2008, 10:06:41 am »

Mole grippers......hehehe

I like that!!

boxer246 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2008, 10:10:52 am »

In my experience, you'll know it when the belt doesn't want to turn past 45 deg. Its not like you're trying to force the doggone thing all the way around. You're just "gingerly" twisting the belt to 45 deg. Its hard to explain exactly. If done right, your sister could probably twist it to the same 45 deg as you could......not sayin' you're a sissy or anything!!! :lol:

epowell · « **Reply #14 on:** October 20, 2015, 02:44:59 pm »

Quote from: boxer246 on April 11, 2008, 10:10:52 am

In my experience, you'll know it when the belt doesn't want to turn past 45 deg. Its not like you're trying to force the doggone thing all the way around. You're just "gingerly" twisting the belt to 45 deg. Its hard to explain exactly. If done right, your sister could probably twist it to the same 45 deg as you could......not sayin' you're a sissy or anything!!! :lol:

Still trying to decide whether or not to get the VW210, but in the meantime gathering as much info as possible.

Does this mean that the 45* twist applies to a 1.6 TD JX ENGINE also?