924Board.org

[Dawson's 924S]

I tried to loosen the locknut on the cam belt tensioner pulley but it just turns and never loosens. What do I do? Also, how do I back off the auto tensioner to get the belt slack?

Thanks, Mike
_________________
1988 924S
1991 Camaro RS 456rwhp/442rwtq
2 '88 5.0s
86 Kawasaki Ninja 1000R
1987 CRX Si

[Sleykin]

From Clarks-garage.com shop manual ...
On cars equipped with spring tensioners (87 Model Onward), perform the following:
The front plate of the spring tensioner resembles a triangle. Loosen, but do not remove, the locknut and bolt on the side of the triangle near the tensioning spring.
Remove the tension on the belt by pushing down on the tensioner lever arm. This can also be done using the factory balance shaft spanner if you have one. With the spring still compressed, tighten the locking bolt and nut. This will allow you to install the new belt without having to fight the spring tensioner.
Remove the timing belt, being careful not to twist the belt if it is to be reused.
If water pump or oil seal maintenance is being performed, the spring tensioner must be removed. Remove the entire spring tensioner assembly as a unit. The three bolts on the face plate of the spring tensioner are not used to remove the unit. There are three bolts (which are very difficult to see) at the back of the tensioner near the block which must be removed to get the assembly out.

NOTE
On spring tensioner cars, I find it very difficult to remove and install the timing belt with the spring tensioner assembly in place. I prefer to remove the spring tensioner assembly from the car during belt removal and reinstall while timing belt is being routed during installation.


HTH
_________________
Glenn Neff
Medford, OR
87' 924S

[Dawson's 924S]

Thanks. That is what I needed.

Do you have any experience with the accuracy of the tensioner? Can it be trusted?

Thanks again, Mike.
_________________
1988 924S
1991 Camaro RS 456rwhp/442rwtq
2 '88 5.0s
86 Kawasaki Ninja 1000R
1987 CRX Si

[Sleykin]

Yes. It can't be trusted to set the tension acurately. Clarks-garage.com has a pretty good shop manual online that will save you a lot of headaches if you read it.
I am in the process of replacing the head gasket on my 87 924S. I have it torn down and finished lapping the valves in tonight. I plan to go through the injectors and replace a bunch of tough to get at hoses while I have things apart. When you go to lift the cam housing cut a piece of plexiglass or thin plywood or even heavh cardboard to slip under the lifters as you roll the housing back. Will keep you from chasing runaway lifters.
Also there are oil galley drains next to the lower headnuts that are big enough for a nut to fall all the way into the pan. You might also want to look into some type of holder for the cam housing bolts so you don't drop any inside the housing. It will be magnet fishing time if you do.

Glenn
_________________
Glenn Neff
Medford, OR
87' 924S

[Dawson's 924S]

I will check the manual out.

I have already experienced the head nut falling down the hole. Luckily it stayed in the head. I also didn't drop any of the lifters, surprisingly.
_________________
1988 924S
1991 Camaro RS 456rwhp/442rwtq
2 '88 5.0s
86 Kawasaki Ninja 1000R
1987 CRX Si

[dash16]

been searching on my info about the spring tensioner.

I am confused. Is this thing supposed to be auto-self-adjusting? Or can you manually set the tensioner in this unit?

It looks to me that this tensioner doesn't really need a spring from the picture but I have yet to see one in real life so I could be wrong.
_________________
1987 Porsche 924S Black/Black. 5-spd.
Options: AFX C79 261 398 423 650 651 657

1987 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth Pearl Black/Black. 5-spd.

STUTTGART PREVAILS

[Dawson's 924S]

I think it auto adjusts but is not to be trusted. I still haven't fixed mine yet....

I have put the word out to the local indy shop though and he's got a hookup on engines. I might just get another engine if it's not much more than rebuilding the one I have already.
_________________
1988 924S
1991 Camaro RS 456rwhp/442rwtq
2 '88 5.0s
86 Kawasaki Ninja 1000R
1987 CRX Si

[Sleykin]

I believe the way the auto tensioner works is to tension the belt for you as you lock it down. It does not float or adjust as the belt stretches unless you loosen the lock and let the spring do it's thing again. The reason for using the tension guage is to assure that it didn't move as you locked it down and to assure the spring hasn't lost tension over the years.
_________________
Glenn Neff
Medford, OR
87' 924S

[dash16]

The spring in the PET is not a separate part from the tensioner. So therefore if the spring loses tension, its time for an entire new tensioner?

As for the lock, let's just say my spring does lose tension, can I just manually set the tensioner with the gauge and lock that tensioner nut down instead of purchasing a new unit?
_________________
1987 Porsche 924S Black/Black. 5-spd.
Options: AFX C79 261 398 423 650 651 657

1987 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth Pearl Black/Black. 5-spd.

STUTTGART PREVAILS

[Sleykin]

As far as I know that is what should happen..as long as the idler bearings are good.
_________________
Glenn Neff
Medford, OR
87' 924S