Auto Spring Tensioner Recalibration?
 

When I recently installed and tensioned a new timing belt on my '87NA (with the Arnnworx tool) I needed to lever the automatic spring tensioner slightly past its spring-set travel to achieve "proper" belt tension, and my guess is that thirty three years of use has left the tensioner spring slightly weakened.

I now have removed the spring tensioner (engine's out for rebuild) and have noticed that the it has what looks like an adjustment nut with which to set the spring tension itself.

Is it possible to send this tensioner out for recalibration - or to re-set this myself to "factory" tension? Has anyone here tried this?

Never messed with it (though have seen some over the years where people just remove the spring outright), but if you could take it apart, you could get some of the spring rate back by fitting washers on the rod (forcing the spring to compress slightly).