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Timing Belt Delfection

Hello Folks (again)

I'm still wiping oil off my hands (doh, and my keyboard too) from a freshly completed timing belt replacement on my 96 Corolla, I have one lingering concern...the deflection on the timing belt. The first time I had the belt on the deflection was pretty darn loose, so I loosened the tensioner bolt and got a rubber coated wrench handle down there for some leverage and pushed the tensioner onto the belt a little bit more, but despite my best efforts I'd say the deflection is sitting at 3/8ths of an inch, my Haynes manual said 1/4 of an inch, so I'm "close" but this is a timing belt, not grenades or horseshoes! Any ideas for getting it tighter? My concern stems from lingering stories in the back of my head about people complaining about their new dealer installed timing belts being so tight that the belt squealed for a little while before it loosened up,.... I don't have any room for this sucker to loosen! Pitch it your two cents, .....no horseshoes or hand grenades please....=)

Blake

Reply to
zachenos
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There are tools made to tighten timing belts for some vehicles. I don't know if they can be applied to your Corolla. Most of them slide between the idler or tensioner and the other fixed against either the timing belt housing, another pulley, or the block. You then turn the threaded rod connecting the two halves to expand (push out) and tighten the belt. You might be able to rent one or make one. They are not a sophisticated design.

Reply to
user

Dunno..You really shouldn't have to adjust the deflection.. If the tensioner is good, and you followed the install method for that engine exactly, it should be right. The tensioner should handle the rest.. I've never adjusted tension on a timing belt.. Thats the purpose of the "exact" install procedure, which varies to engine and make. MK

Reply to
nm5k

I don't know how to get it tighter, but I was told that when you pinch the belt with your thumb and forefinger midway between the cam and crank pulleys, you should be able to twist it 90 degrees. My 1986 Corolla has a tensioner with a locknut and coil spring that's supposed to be set by turning the crank two full turns and then tighting the locknut. When I did that, I could twist the belt 90 degs., and the slack was almost exactly 1/4".

Reply to
larry moe 'n curly

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