timing belt install question

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Feb 25, 2011 | 07:38 AM

Dillon1.8t

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timing belt install question

I was wonding if anywone cold help me. I installed my timing belt kit this weekend I ordered from dieselgeek.com and got the entire kit. I put all the new parts on water pump dampener tensioner pully. I got the belt on and then removed the dampener pin and when i was looking at my belt i just doesnt seem tight enough.. I was just looking for some imput becuase i wasnt entirely sure how the timing belt tensioner worked..

Thanks everyone!
-Dillon

Feb 25, 2011 | 12:24 PM

typ44q

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Did the old tensioner feel like it had more force on it?
After you have everything in place turn the engine over a few times by hand this should even out the tension on the belt between all the different pulleys and give you a chance to see if everything is correct before trying to start it.

Feb 25, 2011 | 01:14 PM

Dillon1.8t

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Quote:

Originally Posted by typ44q

yeah i rotated everything and it all looks good but when i pull on the belt it just seems like the belt has to much play in it. is there a way I can test the tension?

Feb 28, 2011 | 04:24 AM

typ44q

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Dillon1.8t

yeah i rotated everything and it all looks good but when i pull on the belt it just seems like the belt has to much play in it. is there a way I can test the tension?

There are gauges that you press against the belt to measure the deflection per X amount of force but you would have to have the gauge and know what the value is. The old school way of doing it before VW/Audi started with the automatic tensioners was that you wanted enough tension on the belt to be able to twist it 90 degrees (in between the pulleys that are spaced the furthest apart) without using too much force. I know that is kind of vague but that is how I have always done it on non auto tensioner cars and have never had a problem.

Did you check that the tensioner was able to pivot freely after it was bolted on and before the belt was in place?
I had a problem with a tensioner from diesel geek where the pressed in metal sleeve on the pulley was the wrong size (off by about 1mm) but it was enough to keep it from pivoting so when it was torqued down it would not pivot. I swapped the sleeve from the old tensioner to the new one and it worked fine. If that is the problem and the pin has already been pulled you might have to get a new tensioner (I have never been able to get the pin back in to one)