Timing belt tensioner stud broke again. Why?

[jimtash]

I think I got maybe 40 miles on it. WTF is going on to cause it to shear and break. Any of you guys with 3.2L conversions have this problem?

There's no point in fixing it again if it's just going to end up breaking off.

 

[Racer X]

My timing stud is fine on my swap, and I'm 20k in.

Are you torquing the nut properly? It's supposed to be torqued to 40 lb.ft. if I recall.

 

[jimtash]

By the book. Rotated the crank before tightening, made sure the nut is tight. Luckily it has a thread insert in it that protrudes out slightly so it'll be easy to remove as one piece once the thread locker is heated. But the stud itself sheared flush with the block.

It's not the repair that's at fault obviously but something is putting some serious pressure on that stud to cause it to break.

 

[Racer X]

Is there a washer between the nut and the tensioner?

 

[jimtash]

Not a separate one. The factory nut is a ****** nut with the washer already part of it. Not that it matters anymore because it's laying in the road somewhere along with the stud.

 

[Racer X]

Mine is a stud, a washer, and a nut. Not a flanged nut. That might be a part of your issue?

Something is causing your stud to repeatedly snap. My guess is that the nut is backing off, loosening the tensioner, causing vibration which eventually fatigues the stud, and finally, snappo.

On the next one, you might do well to use a threadlocker to keep things in place.

 

[jimtash]

Will do.