6 bolt timing belt job; have you ever had this happen?

[DSM IN MN]

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As you can see from the picture, the shaft snapped or something. This was for my friend's 6 bolt swapped GSX he bought a few months back. We are doing a nice little over-haul to the engine (intake/exhaust manifold gaskets, turbo gaskets, cleaning up the wiring, timing belt, water pump etc.).

I got the timing dead on made sure the back side was tight as VFAQ said, kept it tight on the crank sprocket; everything still lined up; great! Then I put the tensioner on, pull the pin and the above picture is what we got.

Is it that I did something wrong here, or is it just the tensioner quality (possibly)? The timing belt kit is from NAPA (where I work), along with the tensioner. The timing belt is Gates so I do not want to hear I should have gone with OEM Mitsubishi parts; Gates makes the timing belts for Mitsubishi.

Either way NAPA replaced the tensioner for a new one. I would just like to know if there is something different I want to do before trying it again.

Thanks!

 

[j-jamrod]

Tensioner..made in china...that is what happened..... : ). is much better to buy an OEM or a used one OEM

 

[RvlutionMtrsprt]

If the pin popped up at all when you pulled the grenade pin out then I'm gonna guess it wasn't tensioned properly. You should be able to put the grenade pin right back in if things are tensioned right. Either way, I don't think the rod in the tensioner should have broken.

 

[luv2rallye]

NEVER use a non-Mitsubishi timing belt tensioner This is one of those items that can so easily ruin your engine (bent valves when belt comes off) all for saving a few dollars. You also must compress the tensioner (before installing to insert genade pin) very very slowly. I mean VERY slowly or the seal will rupture/weaken!. [BTW Another no-no is a non-oem clutch throw out bearing - endless threads on this.]

 

[JusMX141]

You did something wrong....when you had the tension set and pulled the pin, the tensioner should not have moved. At all.

 

[luv2rallye]

^^^ agree

 

[turboglenn]

seen it a few times, comes from just tightening the tensioner down too fast and not letting it go in a 1/4 turn at a time and relieving pressure before turning it more, a guy "helpieplacement in sioux city put my MITSU tensioner in a vng me" with my HGin sioux city did that to one of mine when he put it in a vise and just started spinning it down until it broke just like that.... i had to rig it to get home. clamping them back down is slow process never rush it

 

[donniekak]

Why does one of the bolt holes have all that wear? Was the tensioner rod stuck on the tensioner pulley bracket, and you just tried to tighten it on anyway?

 

[DSM IN MN]

Tensioner..made in china...that is what happened..... : ). is much better to buy an OEM or a used one OEM

Actually that brand of tensioner is made in Japan. It says so right on the box. It is otherwise identical to the OEM one. Same markings and everything.

If it were me, I would have gone OEM. My friend came to my work one day though and bought it all. I advised him OEM tensioners were the better idea; it is his car/money though.

If the pin popped up at all when you pulled the grenade pin out then I'm gonna guess it wasn't tensioned properly. You should be able to put the grenade pin right back in if things are tensioned right. Either way, I don't think the rod in the tensioner should have broken.

Yeah, it almost looked as if the rod missed the arm. I looked at it from under the car and even questioned if we had the right tensioner. We did after further inspection. That is why I am lost.

NEVER use a non-Mitsubishi timing belt tensioner This is one of those items that can so easily ruin your engine (bent valves when belt comes off) all for saving a few dollars. You also must compress the tensioner (before installing to insert genade pin) very very slowly. I mean VERY slowly or the seal will rupture/weaken!. [BTW Another no-no is a non-oem clutch throw out bearing - endless threads on this.]

I am aware.. Not my call though. You lost me here though. The tensioner comes pre.."pinned" if you will. Am I supposed to un-pin it, then re-pin it? That doesn't seem to make much sense to me but I could be wrong.

(I knew about the TOB this as well).

You did something wrong....when you had the tension set and pulled the pin, the tensioner should not have moved. At all.

The tensioner did not move. It was bolted down. I am aware I must have done something wrong however.

seen it a few times, comes from just tightening the tensioner down too fast and not letting it go in a 1/4 turn at a time and relieving pressure before turning it more, a guy "helpieplacement in sioux city put my MITSU tensioner in a vng me" with my HGin sioux city did that to one of mine when he put it in a vise and just started spinning it down until it broke just like that.... i had to rig it to get home. clamping them back down is slow process never rush it

I'm a bit confused by your first part of the comment.. "comes from just tightening the tensioner down too fast and not letting it go in a 1/4 turn at a time and relieving pressure before turning it more" - I do not remember reading anything about waiting to tighten the tensioner, or anything about a 1/4th turn. Please care to elaborate?

Why does one of the bolt holes have all that wear? Was the tensioner rod stuck on the tensioner pulley bracket, and you just tried to tighten it on anyway?

The wear was from me making sure it was torqued down enough that it wouldn't come loose.. You confused me with talking about "tightening it on anyway?".

 

[luv2rallye]

I'm a bit confused by your first part of the comment.. "comes from just tightening the tensioner down too fast and not letting it go in a 1/4 turn at a time and relieving pressure before turning it more" - I do not remember reading anything about waiting to tighten the tensioner, or anything about a 1/4th turn. Please care to elaborate?

Many tensioners don't come with the grenade pin installed. So you have to put them in a vise to compress them to put the pin in. This is what he's talking about. And then yes, you must turn vise handle 1/4 turn at a time and then wait 15 seconds and keep repeating this or you will damage it's internal seals.

 

[DSM IN MN]

Many tensioners don't come with the grenade pin installed. So you have to put them in a vise to compress them to put the pin in. This is what he's talking about. And then yes, you must turn vise handle 1/4 turn at a time and then wait 15 seconds and keep repeating this or you will damage it's internal seals.

Oh okay, that does not apply to me what so ever then. These tensioners are pre-pinned.