3.0 timing belt tensioner help

[Bizzy]

while taking my timing belt off the tensioner slipped out of my hand, well the allen key slipped. The spring shot it around, and I'm not sure if I have it back on there right. THe spring has good tension on it, but I'm wondering if it should be wound round more than once. when installing the tensioner, should it be just place in the spot for the spring and hooked to the pulley, then just pulled back and locked so tht I can install the belt, or do I wind it around one time and then lock it? I have been looking in my helm's but it is driving me nuts cause I can't find the page.

Thanks

 

[betterman]

Happened to me too when I was installing the timing belt. I believe we only rotated it once, but also think that was as far as it would go. You can try rotating it another turn but I don't think it will be able to make another turn and if it does it will probably be putting may to much pressure on the belt.

 

[Gloffer]

The spring should be placed on the pulley and then set on the mounting bolt so that it catches on the spring post mounted to the block. The spring has to be oriented so that when the pulley is turned in the clockwise direction to de-tension the timing belt, the perpendicular section at the end of the spring that goes to the block will catch on the block post.

At the most you would have to turn the pulley 270 degrees on re-install and probably only about 180 degrees. On a normal timing belt de-tension (note that this is actually the point that the spring is under the most tension)you loosen the pulley mounting bolt and then turn the allen clockwise through about 180 degrees and then tighten up the mounting bolt. Note that the the pulley mounting bolt torque setting is 24 to 38 ft-lbs.

It would be best to have your 14 mm socket hanging from the pulley mounting bolt while you're doing the de-tensioning so that when you get the pulley to max de-tension you're able to lock it de-tensioned with a coupla swings of the ratchet.

Be careful with that spring, if you break it or distort it you'll be going to the junkyard to get a new "used" one. And that's only if the junkyard is willing to remove the timing covers to get to a low dollar part.

Make sure you only detension your timing belt by turning the allen wrench in the clockwise direction. I mistakenly turned mine counter-clockwise and distorted one of the spring coils. I searched all over the country to get a new one and have not yet been successful.
The spring is a separate part from the pulley and should cost about $6, but it's an obsolete part from Ford.

<small>[ April 07, 2003, 12:16 AM: Message edited by: Gloffer ]</small>