Quick question about timing belt removal/installation

[16g-95gsx]

What is this "Special Tool" I see listed on the faq? Its like a long bolt, and they have a part number referencing the tool. Is this tool needed for the removal of the timing belt, or can I get around using it? What exactly does it do, I cant really tell its point through the diagrams, is it simply to hold the belt still? Id like to try to remove my head in preparation for a HG change tommorrow, however I don't have this tool, and I need to travel 3.5 hours home to do this removal, so Id like to know in advance if I can get around this step of the removal/installation. Thanks for any help you guys can give.

http://www.vfaq.com/mods/timingbelt-2G.html
(step 9 on this faq)

 

[chaye]

the special tool...
i have done plenty of timing belt jobs on 4g63s and i have not found the need for this tool...i guess it is to push the hydrulictensioner back in so you can put the pin in. However, this can be done using a vice.

 

[yoshimitsuspeed]

That's what it looks like to me. I always just loosend the tensioner pully, and then removed the Hydraulic tensioner. Put the tensioner in a vice or any other way to compress it enough to get a pin in. They suggest a allen wrench because whatever you use it must be very hard steel so it wont bend under the pressure. Mitsubishi recomends you replace the hydraulic tensioner any time you remove it. They also recomend you replace the pullies with the belt. If you have recently replaced the pullies and tensioner I know a lot of people, myself included have reused the old ones but if you are replacing the belt because of age I would recomend replacing the pullies and tensioner. I would rather spend the few extra bucks than worry about improper tension, or a pully dieing.
After installing the belt and getting all my marks lined up I always put the hydraulic tensioner in place, then use a screwdriver to pry the pully fairly tight (you can use a rag between the screwdriver and pully to make sure you don't mess up the pully surface) then tighten the pully bolt, Now you pull the pin out of the tensioner and it will take up any slack. There is also a tool to tighten the tensioner pully which they didn't seem to metion, I never felt it was worth it. When I pull the hydraulic tensioner I try to get a good idea of how far it extends so when I pull the pin I check to make sure it is not at the end of it's throw, if it does you might want to take it back off recompress the hydraulic tensioner and put it back in then get the tensioner pully a little tighter before repulling the pin. The only special tools I have found help this project are patientce and a 6 pack.
Good luck