2G Gates timing tensioner

[Cooper-97gst]

Hey guys, I'm doing a timing belt on my 98 gsx. I went with the jnz tuning kit which includes the water pump, timing and balance belts along with the tensioners and pulleys. Install was going fine in till it came time to pull the pin on the timing belt tensioner. I couldn't pull it out to save my life. I had to unbolt it and this is what i found. I'm wondering if you guys would still trust this tensioner or should I contact jnz for a replacement.

 

[gst-turbo]

Thats how mine looked and i bought the same kit last year and if it is installed on the car and you cant pull it out its becouse you dont have the correct tension on it. It might be too tight or too loose. The pin has to come out like nothing and after you turn the motor a few rotation you should be able to put the pin back it. Looks like you gave to much tension and bent the pin but it should still come out.

 

[Cooper-97gst]

The issue is there's so much pressure it bent the provided pin. To use it I will need to compress the tensioner and find something stronger then the pin to keep it in place. Also the shaft is at an angle. I think it from me pulling on the pin. I didn't notice it this way prior to install. I didn't inspect it.

 

[Cooper-97gst]

But if I compressed it the belt too much wouldn't it bend the pin downward? The way it's bent the tensioner bent it.

 

[gst-turbo]

Yea thats what you did and the belt bent the pin. You put the belt on way too tight.

 

[Cooper-97gst]

Too much tension on the belt pushes the tensioner shaft do ward. It would have bent the pin down into the tensioner. Its bent upward meaning the tensioner is pushing out to much tension. I guess I just want someone to verify the tensioner is still good to use

 

[chrysler kid]

The only way you could have damaged that pin is by really cranking down on the tensioner arm tool to bend that thing, then when you took the tensioner off it could have rotated the pin upwards. To get the tensioner pulley that tight would be extremely difficult.

I would only use an oem tensioner. Say no to China parts

Yes you should get a replacement

 

[gst-turbo]

I was thinking you turned the pin around after u bent it down.

 

[Cooper-97gst]

No I didn't turn it around, I can't get it out with out compressing it and it won't turn in place. I'm wondering if the tensioner puts out too much tension if it could potentially cause harm. I've done a couple timing jobs but never ran into this. I also put the two pin holes downwards like I've done before for tension. It's a first for me. There's a lot of people using gates with goid results. I thought it was a trusted option so I moved forward with it.

 

[m_0ney_pit]

got the same kit. wanted to return it but opened it up to look at the pulleys. Stamped made in china everwhere and looks like the same bearings autozone and advance sells by the aqua covers. Its not JNZ's fault I just expected better from Gates. Its funny the tensioner is stamped made in Japan on the box but when you take the tensioner out it says made in China.

I returned the tensioner and kept the water pump and belt stuff they took it back and refunded me in a flash because JNZ is awesome. I'm just getting an oem tensioner.

 

[chrysler kid]

I'm sure a gates unit will work fine for now, I just prefer the oem part than the copied part.

Regardless of manufacturer I would not use that part

 

[Cooper-97gst]

Pulleys and everything else seem to be fine thus far. I'll go ahead and contact them and ask them to replace with an oem or for a refund on it.

 

[pauleyman]

If that center pin is no longer in the center that unit is damaged. Bending the retaining pin is likely an unfortunate error but messing up the tensioner itself can happen when bolting it up if you werent paying attention.