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Why does nobody talk about the right way to set a timing belt tensioner?
I keep seeing techs just slap a new belt on and crank the tensioner bolt until it feels tight, especially on interference engines like the old Honda D16. The manual says to rotate the engine twice and recheck, but I've had three cars come in this month with jumped timing because the previous guy skipped that step. How do you guys handle it, or is that extra step just shop lore?
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ivan827mo ago
You ever seen a grown man cry over a D16? I have, and it was me. Learned the hard way that skipping the rotate-and-check step is a great way to turn an engine into a fancy paperweight. The manual isn't just making busy work, it lets the belt settle into the tracks. If you just crank it to "feels tight," you're asking for it to jump later. That extra five minutes is cheaper than a whole new head.
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charlie_roberts877mo ago
Oof, felt that in my soul.
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evannelson6mo ago
Man, I feel you on this. The rotate and check step is absolutely not shop lore, it's basic belt physics. The belt teeth need to seat fully into the sprockets, and tension needs to settle across all the spans. Skipping it is just asking for trouble, like @charlie_roberts87 can probably agree. That "feels tight" method on the bench is never right once the engine moves. The manual's way is the only safe way, full stop.
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