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Cam belt tensioner

D

drfc71

New member
Hello all

Ive got a 1989 2.7 lux with the auto tensioner but I just wondered how it works?
Does the spring keep tension on all the time or do you undo the nuts let the spring take the tension and then tighten them up again and it is set.
My belt is due for a re-tension thats all and I fancy doing it myself but am unsure how it works?
 
If it's the same as the S2 then no it doesn't keep the tension on all the time it needs to be loosened then allowed to tension then tightened up, did this with mine the other week but the spring was worn so had to manually move the tensioner and then tighten up.
 
Ok thanks for that. I looked at mine the other day but it seems that it is nearly set to maximum anyway with only a small amount of adjustment left. Could this mean it was slightly overtensioned when it was replaced so there will be no need to adjust it now perhaps?
 
Not sure of your situation but I suppose it depends when your belt was changed as to whether it has stretched, it does not need much adjustment to make a big difference to the belt though and be careful of which nuts you undo as one holds the tensioner to the backing plate and if this is undone as it is a bolt and nut the unit needs to come off for refit. From memory it is not the obvious nuts but the one in the middle of the tensioner and the other at the top right that need to be undone.
 
That tensioner is a right pig to wiggle out to retighten the nut too. Having made that error I know what a pain it is.
 
There is a good guide on how to do this in the workshop manual; shows which (2 of 3) nuts to undo, wiggle the belt to settle at the right spot and the right tension, then tighten the nuts. There are lots of health warnings around about not trusting the spring, need to use the proper tension measuring tool etc etc. Apparently if it is a new belt the tensioner will not set enough tension. Clarks Garage as ever has good diagrams and photos for the procedure.
 
The Clarkes guide is easy to follow and worthwhile using but make sure your cam pulley hasn't got two marks which look like TDC marks as mine has which really confused me for a while.
 
The auto tensioner isn't an auto tensioner, it only roughly sets the tension of the belt. You still need to adjust it with the gauge and then tighten the 2 locknuts. The springs do loose there springiness so worth watching out for. Alasdair
 
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