Timing belt self tensioner

[whitesell81]

Hey I'm putting togeter my new baby, and 88 944T, and I've never dealt with the self-tensioning mechanism before. Everything is at TDC, I released the tensioner, and tightend it in position. Tension appears correct on the water pump side, however there is some slack in the opposite side. If I turn the crank 1-1/2 - 2 degrees tension is equal, but not at TDC.

Is this normal?

The manual does not elaborate.

[IceShark]

Well, yes sort of.

What you are supposed to do is turn the engine over clockwise twice. Then bring everything to TDC. Turn the crank counter-clockwise about 1.5 teeth on the cam sprocket (~10 degrees). Then release the tension roller. Bolt it down and check tension with a tension gauge as well as making sure you didn't skip a tooth and get out of alignment. You are done.

Now the only other problem is if you have a new belt. Then you are supposed to rock the belt back and forth by some hit or miss degree and hope you get it tight enough before you sock down the tensioner. And then take your tension measurements. A new belt has a higher tension requirement than a used belt. And it is better to be too loose than too tight. If it whines you are too tight.

[whitesell81]

Thanks,
As I understand it as long as I'm within 1-2 teeth I'm ok to turn (and I'm not more than 1) over the engine as you mentioned, then do the allignment procedure as described.

[IceShark]

That is my understanding also. I think you could actually be off more than that and get away with it without bending a valve. But why take any chances. There are one or two guys that have actually lost a belt while running and avoided bent valves, pretty rare but has happened.