just wondering how i could go about making a good timing belt tensioner tool. instead of buying one.
i was thinking of making a dogbone out of a piece of 2mm thick steetmetal, and drilling 2 holes in the end, for which i would put 2 long bolts with nuts.
does anyone make their own tool?
I finally bought the tool a few years ago....I still think it was $25 well spent.
If you can find a Midlock dealer where you live, the correct tools set me back 12 euros...
It gives you much better feel about the tension applied to the tensioner.
I like the drill bit and screwdriver method. Myself, I use a pair of snap ring pliers with 90 degree tips. Works great. I've heard of people stealing a dinner fork from the kitchen and bending two of the prongs. That would likely work well if it was a good fork.
I'm with vwmike, the right tools are pretty cheap and you don't have to feel so ghetto. You can buy vw diesel timing tools on ebay for dirt cheap although I can't speak for the quality.
I bought a metric dial indicator with the adapter and extension off ebay. It also came with the cam and pump locks which I didn't really need (already had them), but the whole thing was something like $70 shipped from Germany. I can't complain. It has worked well so far.
I've got a similar dial indicator adapter and I think I might buy a better one in time. I find it difficult to get repeatable results so it takes twice as long to time the pump. The lock bolt is not sufficient to hold the dial indicator still.