1G Timing belt tensioner getting jamed

[lowboost13]

Hey guys I'm a little stumped. I was doing my timing belt today, and I was setting the belts tension. When I tightened the tensioners bolt it locks up, and tensioner wont spin freely. The belt just slides on the tensioner itself and the tensioner does not spin. I got this car in pieces and pieced it together, but I think I got it all back together correctly. Is there a spacer that is supost to go behind the tensioner? Or am I tightening the pully to much? Any ideas???

 

[jrohner]

You're rotating the tensioner the wrong way it sounds like.

 

[lowboost13]

I was rotating it clockwise is that right or wrong?

 

[pauleyman]

It all depends on what motor is in the car. If it's an original 91 it's a 6 bolt. The two dots go up top and you turn it clockwise

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

Yeah, what Pauly said plus; and you need to have it so the bolt is "finger tight" in that situation before you attempt to "set it".

In this pic(s), it shows where you want to start it, put the pulley on there by hand, tighten it by hand in this position initally (just tight enough it will stay in position when you let go of it I believe, it took me a few times of trying it to find the sweet spot of tightness before turning and torqueing it, but the same thing would happen too me as well).

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And after you torque it you want it endup here like in this pic, with holes about 11 and 1 oclock.

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I always leave the grenade pin in til the very end after the 6 rotations and everyting, no need to keep pulling the pin and re-compressing on the tensioner everytime you re-do it. Cause it may take you 3-5 times till you get it set right, but just keep trying and it you will get the hang of it.

 

[1996dsm]

I might be understanding your post wrong, but did you happen to remover the arm it pivots on? If so you may have put it back on wrong, had that issue with a friends motor recently.

Undo the bolt it pivots on and and move it up higher over what its hitting. If you got it in pieces im almost %100 sure this is whats wrong....

 

[lowboost13]

Ok thanks guys I think I was just over torqueing it I will check it out again tomorrow. I think I just got worried cause its my first time doing this .

 

[1996dsm]

Im pretty sure its what i stated above, but let us know how it turns out for you.

 

[lowboost13]

It was just that I did'nt have the dots facing up.