I'm new here as I just bought a '86 2 door jetta. The odometer was broke so I am replacing the timing belt. It looks pretty good but the back had some lines on it like it was sliding on the idler pulley and when I checked the pulley it seemed very tight. I can turn it with the end wrench on it and sometimes after I get it started I can turn it by hand but not always. Shouldn't this turn a little easier? Is there a bearing in behind it? My book makes no mention of this pulley that I see, the larger diameter pulley between the pump and crank. I did a search but couldn't find any reference to this pulley. Let me know if anyone has ever seen this, thanks.
That's the intermediate shaft.It turns the oil pump and vacuum pump.It may be stiff,as it has to work to turn everything else.You could also have a bad intermediate shaft bearing.
You could pop the vacuum pump off and see if it frees up.