Robin Banks
New member
We have a Rapido motorhome based on a Ducato X244 2.8JTD registered in 2007. According to the paperwork, the van has only been worked on by 'professionals'. I am in the process of changing the timing belt and have found a broken centre bracket on the upper belt cover, The timing belt tensioner mounting bolt was finger tight (I kid you not!) and the washers on the tensioner roller were fitted the wrong way round - damaging the lower belt cover - so much for professionals.
Anyway, can anyone tell what the correct tension for the auxiliary drive belts (also, both being changed) should be? I'd been told many years ago, that such belts should be able to be turned through ninety degrees (just) when tensioned. Before the belts were removed, I checked the tension this way - and it proved so - I could just turn them. Bearing in mind the above comment about professionals, this could be right or wrong. Is the 90 degree test viable - or is there some other way to determine the correct tension?
Anyway, can anyone tell what the correct tension for the auxiliary drive belts (also, both being changed) should be? I'd been told many years ago, that such belts should be able to be turned through ninety degrees (just) when tensioned. Before the belts were removed, I checked the tension this way - and it proved so - I could just turn them. Bearing in mind the above comment about professionals, this could be right or wrong. Is the 90 degree test viable - or is there some other way to determine the correct tension?