Timing Belt Tensioner

[poissonverte]

For the ATX is the bolt that holds the tensioner pulley supposed to be torqued to about 4 lbs? The helms has a weird tool they are using and in the instructions it says torque tensioner bolts to 25-32 lbs. Im guessing thats for the bolts that hold the tensioner to the block.. just need some clarification before I button it up.

 

[Black '93]

If you removed just the timing tensioner by loosening the center bolt, I would just put it back on and tighten it good and tight just like any other tensioner. Not enough to stop it from spinning fast enough though. I wouldn't be too worried about the torque specs on that one but I'm sure it would be way more than 4 lbs. I did mine nice and tight and it's been fine for a long time now.

 

[Off Road SHO]

This is so confusing. With the allen wrench still in the hole, holding down the piston, the tensioner needs to be bolted to the block with the 25 to 32 foot pounds.

Next, rotate the eccentric pulley towards the belt using that special little two prong tool; how much? Some un-godly low torque number. Why do they want you to do that? Because the pneumatic piston only has so much travel to work with and if the pulley is not pre-tensioned into the belt, the piston won't exert enough force on the tensioner pulley.

I ought to do a write up with pictures so it will be easier to understand how and why.

Tom

 

[poissonverte]

Maybe my wording is confusing because there wasnt much room for the tensioner to move anyways when i got the timing belt on.

1. Tensioner- the part that contains the pin you compress with a c-clamp and hold it in place with a small allen wrench. Check, done that.

2. Tensioner pulley assembly. One part is the nut holding it to the engine block where a bolt thats part of the engine block slides through. I tightened that to like 30 lbs. You are able to flip flop the pulley with this part of the tensioner. To tight it gets stuck.

3. Tensioner pulley. Has a bolt going through it and on the backside is a nut holding the bolt on. I think awhile ago someone had theirs fail because the nut wasnt on.

4. Camera. I need to buy a new one.

Thoughts.. I think im good since the belt is ungodly tight as it is. What say you guys?

 

[Black '93]

The ATX pulley is a lot different then the MTX, and on my '93 ATX it was as easy as sliding the pulley over the bolt and torqueing it down. There was no little spot for you to hold the tensioner back with an allen key like the phoenix SHO project said, and the tensioner tightened itself. No adjustment needed. Just bolt it on and move it with your hand to get it out of the way untill the belt is on..

 

[Yamaha V6]

#1 - I call the "Tensioner Piston"
#2 - "Tensioner Pulley Assembly" or "Rocker Assembly"
#3 - yes, you are correct, and this has been a common failure over the past couple of years; I've been selling used pulleys to people all over the country. I'm putting the final touches on a repair kit using new parts (factory tensioner pulley & idler pulleys are discontinued). Repair kit should run around $200 for just the pulley kit, $250 with a new timing belt when I'm done.
#4 - can't help you there.

Make sure #3's bolt is on there good - use some loctite if you like. If the nut backs out, failure.

Personally, I locate, bolt in, give a tug by hand on the rocker assembly toward the belt, and pull the pin on the tensioner, then tug again. Haven't had an ATX timing belt / piston issue in years of working on them.

 

[Yamaha V6]

There was no little spot for you to hold the tensioner back with an allen key ..

I think Tom was referring to using a very small allen key to hold the tensioner piston in the compressed position, not the pulley into position like the MTX, FYI.

 

[poissonverte]

Okay, thanks for all the help to everyone. I think I am good to go then. I should have it buttoned up tonight and well see what happens then

 

[Black '93]

yeah well on an atx or at least mine; there is nowhere to use an allen key or pin to hold it in the compressed position FYI!

 

[Bizzy]

yeah well on an atx or at least mine; there is nowhere to use an allen key or pin to hold it in the compressed position FYI!

There should be. There's a tiny hole that goes through the middle of the piston and when compressed it will line up with the tiny hole that goes through the housing of the tensioner. You stick the tiny allen key into the housing, thru the piston and out the other side of the housing.

 

[Yamaha V6]

yeah well on an atx or at least mine; there is nowhere to use an allen key or pin to hold it in the compressed position FYI!

Thanks to Hamal T for the original photo...

Please note that when the piston is compressed the holes line up and you put a pin in it to lock it down before installing.

 

[Black '93]

I know exactly what you're talking about, but mine is non-existant. I swear it's not there...Anyone elses like that? When I did my timing belt I was going to do that but it wasn't there.

 

[Yamaha V6]

I have never seen one without a set of holes. Without the holes, it's impossible to restrain the piston in place while installing the tensioner.

I have seen ones that were dirty & covered over, but never not-there.

 

[Black '93]

Next time i'm in there I'll post a pic.