Cricket device for 944 Belt tension

[HammJames]

Has anyone here had any experience with the Cricket Device advertised by 9XAuto to tension the belts on a 944?

Here is the link to the tool

http://www.9xauto.com/944.html

[divezic]

I have the tool but haven't used it yet. Try Marcus Blaszak's site for some info and pix....

http://www.geocities.com/blaszak_precision/

[mike944]

quite a few people on this board have tried it, and the opinion is mixed. some think it is ok, and some wouldn't use it.

Myself, i wouldn't trust it at all. I tried to use it when i did the belts, and i couldn't physically find a spot to put it on the belt without the tool hitting anything else. I got it as close as i could, and took it down to the local Porsche specialty shop who used the factory 9201 tool, and the mechanic said i had the belts WAY to tight, they probably would have snapped prematurely if i had left it that way. They only charged me $60 (1 hour labor) to tension it. Besides, the krikit literature specifically says NOT to use it for timing belts. The balance shaft belt iseven more difficult, because the back is not flat. the krikit needs a flat surface to be put on. In my opinion, the timing/balance belt is too important a part of your engine to risk.

That's my story, and i'm sticking to it. I'm sure someone else will disagree.

Good luck
Mike

[mike944]

whoops, repost. problems with posting

[divezic]

I tend to agree with Mike944. Although, I am going to trust it just enough to ball-park my belts for the drive to the local dealer for the professional tention. A $25 tool plus a bunch of $60 trips to the dealer is a lot less than a $500 dollar tool...in my humble shadetree-mechanic opinion.

Another option is to rent the $500 tool right here from Pelican Parts. My problem with that is that I would still take it to a dealer to get it checked. I heard those tools are still difficult to use accurately for the inexperienced.

Anybody out there with first-hand experience with the Porsche tool?

[bigyagi]

hmmm, very interesting subject this, as it touch'es on an important part of 944 maintenance. imho, it is the thought of the belt slipping a tooth or so, or breaking completely, that drives us to despair, when we talk about timing belts etc..
i have owned a number of cars, with belt-driven cams,{in the uk}and generally when a belt goes, it does no damage-ie:valves. the tension of the belt is not a "black" art, and i'm quite sure that the krikit device, will do a reasonable job of tensioning, if you validate your readings, and use commonsense.
i would have no hesitation in using this device, indeed i was quoted $150us, just for getting a "factory" tension job, so how come some people are quoted $60--$85, for the same job?
anyway, as regards the factory tensioning gauge, if you have a local porsche club, or if it is just you, and a couple of friends, then why not consider buying a gauge between you!! 8 people= $50,each and lets face it, you will probably only use it only once a year, or twice max! seems like a good idea to me, now if only i could find another 4--8 porsche 944 owners in , or near to windsor ontario!!!!
happy tensioning!!!

[bigyagi]

as an addendum to my earlier post, yes i know that major engine damage will follow, if you have trouble with the 944 belt. i was talking about various uk cars that i have owned, that had belt driven cams.
one camshaft belt,is no different from another! as long as you pay attention to the maintenance periods, and keep up tensioning intervals/ belt replacement, all will be well!
sometimes the little, and often, problems with this car is a pain in the a%%, but everytime i get behind the wheel, and "give it some", i realise that it is so very worth it, to keep things in perfect order!

[Lawrence Coppari]

Ever notice that mechanics always find things wrong with anything we do ourselves or anything done by other mechanics...just human nature.