Messed up a timing belt tensioner???

[Oil Phil-M]

EJ22 with the later one piece tensioner. Before I found out the need to compress these things very slowly I stuck it in a vise and squeezed it. The first couple of millimeters went quicklly then it became very firm so I stoped the compressing.

 

Do these things have a bit more give at the start of the stroke then firm up or did I F$@# this tensioner up?

[lmdew]

To be safe, I'd get another one, used is OK as they never fail.

 

Let it all the way out and then slowly compres it. I use a wood handscrew clamp. Put a little pressure on it, let it set, put a little more pressure on it, let it set.

 

In answer to your question, if you compres it quickly it will bind a the viscus fluid inside stops the movement.

[davebugs]

I've found the "new and improved and more expensive" new style tensioners to be more subject to fail. And they are always on interference engines.

 

 

I think they fail more on their own and get ruined more by compression. I also try and keep them in their normal position when compressing in a vice.

 

Therefore I probably wouldn't use it.

 

A new one comes already compressed.

 

All tensioners I give the vice a little nudge everytime I walk buy it the whole time I'm working on the engine. So often an hour or two to compress a tensioner. Probably overkill but I really do go outta my way to compress them slowly.

[MilesFox]

It does that. If you go back to it you can get more squeeze.

 

It takes a few minutes, you squeeze off a millimiter till it's tight. let it rest, and do it again. It just needds to take its time, but it will go. What you are experienceing is normal. Just don't force it.

 

There is more than one way to squeeze a log on your bench:lol:

[Oil Phil-M]

I went throught the compression procedure with the adjuster again last night after writing this post. This time I used the vise to hold the c-clamp vertically so the adjuster could be orientated in its installed position. The first couple of millimeters of compression there was little resistance then it firmed up. Like you guys have shared, from that point on it just sat there and every time I walked by I gave the clamp a 1/4 turn to tighten. As i turned the clamp the piston again would start off with having only slight resistance then would firm up at which point I would stop. Result was about a 1/4 turn of the clamp. This continued over a period of an hour or more until I was able to get the grenade pin in place. I never forced the piston once I felt resistance even when I had it in the vise the wrong way so it sounds like I didn't mess things up. The unit itself doesn't show any signs of being a problem (bearings or leaking). Thanks for your replies. First time for me using this forum.

Edited June 25, 2011 by Oil Phil-M

[Olnick]

Thanks for your replies. First time for me using this forum.

 

Sounds like you might be okay (although I know nothing about the new style tensioners!)

 

Welcome aboard, Phil. If you can master the search function you can find everything you need to know about Subies here. And if not just ask--USMBers are the most helpful people in the world!