General MK1 1.7td timing belt feels slack!

[Mushy Head]

Hi guy's I have just picked up a 1.7td on a V reg.
There was no record of the timing belt being done so I changed it.

Problem is it feels quite slack, much slacker than any other belt I have done before... Is this right?
The marks all time up OK after turning over by hand and the tensioner is at it's peak.
A Gates kit has been used and the belt is the correct one.

Any ideas?

 

[DaveMcT]

Hi guy's I have just picked up a 1.7td on a V reg.
There was no record of the timing belt being done so I changed it.

Problem is it feels quite slack, much slacker than any other belt I have done before... Is this right?
The marks all time up OK after turning over by hand and the tensioner is at it's peak.
A Gates kit has been used and the belt is the correct one.

Any ideas?

Did you use a new tensioner pulley?

 

[Mushy Head]

Yes I did.

 

[DaveMcT]

On my HGT the tensioner pulley sits on an eccentric which has to be pulled around while its tightened. Simply tightening it would have left the belt slack.

The accessory belt tensioner was the real problem its return spring is so heavy and awkward to get at I had to use a jack under the spanner.

 

[Mushy Head]

Anyone else?

 

[Mushy Head]

Morning!

 

[harry23]

When you say the tensioner is at it's peak i assume you mean that if you rotate it further it will start giving slack back to the belt. Know what I mean?

It this is the case, ensure you have the right belts and tensioner, check them off the one you replaced.

Also how slack is slack...

 

[Mushy Head]

How embarrassing !
The Continental box suggests you rotate the tensioner clockwise - odd I thought!
It was, this car is no different to any other... I took everything off again and refitted it.

For future reference the tensioner should be tensioned anti clockwise!


Thanks for everyone's help