Timing Belt Play WTF

[DSM Chase]

My GSX has been on jack stands for about 2 weeks now as the Transmission is at shep getting built. Yesterday i took the timing belt cover off and there is about an inch of play, alot of slop i know. It was running fine before i checked it so i geuss there is no internal damage. I am pulling the motor today what should i check first?

 

[TSITurbo95]

Auto tensioner is bad.

 

[TAL0NTSi]

I suggest switching to a solid tensioner. I've seen hydraulic tensioner's fail so many times. BLE makes a solid tensioner for pretty cheap.

 

[LandoAWD]

Is it really 1"? Some deflection wile cold is normal, but not that much.

 

[DSM Chase]

Yea I figured the tensioner was bad

 

[TWOpointFORliter]

I remember the first time I noticed the slop in my timing belt. I freaked out. I mean I just did the timing belt with a new tensioner and pullies and I know I did everything right since I always check my work more than once. I searched and searched and came to the conclusion that it is normal. It all depends where your engine stops at. Sometimes my belt is loose sometimes it is tight. I have been driving my car hard for almost 20K since I first noticed the slack and it is still running strong to this day. Turn your engine over by hand a few times and see if it still has slack. You can also pull your timing cover off and inspect your tensioner.

 

[thomcasey]

I suggest switching to a solid tensioner. I've seen hydraulic tensioner's fail so many times. BLE makes a solid tensioner for pretty cheap.

Who is BLE?

 

[Jon91TSi]

I suggest switching to a solid tensioner. I've seen hydraulic tensioner's fail so many times. BLE makes a solid tensioner for pretty cheap.

A solid tensioner is a bad idea for a street car unless you like the idea of checking the tension every 3000 miles or so. Usually only dedicated track cars run solid tensioners.

 

[Boostdriven]

I would check the pulley that's on the tensioner arm, the bolt hole in that pulley is offset so u can tighten the belt before pulling a pin from the tensioner when installing the timing belt, if that bolt is loose it will cause the pulley to roll back and releas the tension, also check the tensioner and make sure its not all the way out