[sasilverbullet]

Before I get pummeled with "You have to use the tool or else!", let me say that I know that there are very experienced folks out there that can adjust the balance and T-belt without using any tool because they've done it a bizillion times and know by "feel" when it's right.



My question to you gurus - can you please explain to me as best you can how to "tell" when the belts are correct? My current mechanic at a aftermarket Porsche-only repair place doesn't even use the tension gauge on the t-belt, he relies on the auto-adjuster mechanism to tesion it (scarry to me!)



My goal here is to become a belt adjusting guru someday - I just want to be able to adjust my belts right before and after two days at the track!



<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

i've done mine by feel, and am confident it will be fine - this is in no way to be intended to be a recommendation that just anybody get in there and start monkeying around though



for me, the ac and power steering are pretty simple - tight so there is only 1/2" of deflection (making danged sure i loosen and then retighten the mounting bolts in the process, so they don't break - loosen - adjust - retighten)



the balance shaft belt is a bit tougher - basically, it should be able to barely rotate 90 degrees on a twist - keep in mind that everybody's idea of "oof" is different, so this is a bit of trial and error to get it right, and then know what that feels like - the adjuster is very touchy, and this make take a few tries to get it right



the current "wisdom" says to tighten it so that there is a slight whine when cold, that goes away when it warms up



hope that helps

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[Guest]

[quote name='sasilverbullet' post='28425' date='Nov 28 2006, 06:05 AM']My question to you gurus - can you please explain to me as best you can how to "tell" when the belts are correct? My current mechanic at a aftermarket Porsche-only repair place doesn't even use the tension gauge on the t-belt, he relies on the auto-adjuster mechanism to tesion it (scarry to me!)



My goal here is to become a belt adjusting guru someday - I just want to be able to adjust my belts right before and after two days at the track!



<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />[/quote]



There is no reason to use a tension guage on the timing belt. It is tensioned automatically as you stated. Why should this be scary?



You can pick up a krikit tension guage at Napa for about $5. In my experience, it's easier to use than the porsche tool. I tension by feel and then check it with the krikit to be sure.



I would recommend borrowing the porsche tool, buying a krikit, and cross reference the meaured tension with your fingers until you are comfortable with where it should be.



I would be cautious about turning too many bolts/nuts just before a track day. It's possible that something will back off under the high stress conditions if loosened just prior. I feel better putting some street miles on between wrenching and hitting the track just to stress anything that has been touched.

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[sasilverbullet]

Thanks for the words!



I'm having a friend bring over a 9201 tool and we'll use it to 'test' my 'oof' factor.



And I agree 100% on the not wrenching right before a track day!

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[sasilverbullet]

oh - forgot to ask...



Is that 90 degree inflection taken with it at TDC or with it up to TDC and then backed off a little?

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[flash]

oof - ok - seems we already have confusion - that or you're messing with me



since the plugs are out of the car when doing this (forgot to mention that), and you always rotate clockwise, there isn't any real load, so the difference would be minimal - on the balance belt, it isn't inflection (though i again may be missing the joke) nor deflection - it's a "twist limit" - but, to answer the question, i always checked it at TDC and also after rotating it a half turn or so



is that more, or less confusing?

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[sasilverbullet]

Great! I think I've got it! I feel empowered, thanks Flash...

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[flash]

no worries - again though, it's a subjective thing that, while i feel comfortable with, i do not recommend to others, whose skills and sensitivity of hands i do not know - for example, from all the years of doing this kind of stuff, i can usually tell how tight something is within a couple of foot pounds, but i don't know about others - i am very wary of telling somebody how tight to make a belt

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[S_Cal968]

I agree, "feel" is not easy to describe - I learned by many years of doing...



Another tip to consider grasshopper; after adjustment I like to run the engine and observe the bal/belt as I bring up the rpm. I adjust for least amount of oscillation along the longest span [top] without making it too tight. Hope that makes sense...

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[sasilverbullet]

Yes it does master yogi...<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



oh, and also I'm pretty good at gauging torque also, been doing it since '72... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[sasilverbullet]

Flash et. all - here's a pic - just wanted to verify...



The yellow circle is where the adjuster is, yes?

Which direction do I turn the wrench to tighten the belt?





The red circle is the middle of the long run of the belt, that's where i take my "90degree" reading? Yes?





   

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[flash]

yes to both locations



adjustment can go either way - there is a pic in the manual of the correct orientation of the eccentric though - i always have to check the danged thing to be sure (memory was second thing to go)



it will likely be a very frustrating process - there is a clearance dimension from a guide to be careful of - it is also specced in the manual - getting both the correct tension, and the correct clearances takes some patience - minute adjustments are the order of the day, so as to achieve the goal



good luck

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[S_Cal968]

Yep, it really depends on the orientation of the eccentric. The mid roller [as mentioned] is set to a specific dimension above the belt. Do you have the service manual to look-up the dim? What's tricky is making sure the measurement is taken on a cog and not between to cogs.

The lower roller is for tensioning and may require a few tweaks to get it just right. I fabbed a thin wrench to hold the eccentric [which may move with the nut] while tightening the nut. Always double check your setting after torquing the nut.

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[sasilverbullet]

Thanks guys. I think that gives me all I need to know - and yes, i have the manual on cd. Not that it makes that much sense, porsche manuals are not for the timid...

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[doster]

[quote name='sasilverbullet' post='28535' date='Nov 29 2006, 02:46 PM']Thanks guys. I think that gives me all I need to know - and yes, i have the manual on cd. Not that it makes that much sense, porsche manuals are not for the timid...[/quote]



I was looking at your picture and it looks like your running without the balance belt idler pulley

do you have it off for repair or is this something we can do without?

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[sasilverbullet]

I grabbed that pic off a site - it's not actually my car.

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[doster]

[quote name='sasilverbullet' post='28547' date='Nov 29 2006, 06:34 PM']I grabbed that pic off a site - it's not actually my car.[/quote]



lol. I was just curious. recently changed my belts and had to tinker with the idler a little.



the manuel says to pre load the idler to 0-0.1mm and keep 0.5mm from the lower toothed pulley

and when i pre loaded the idler the belt would be too tight. I know i shouldn.t be doing it but i adjusted

it while it was running and all is good now <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[sasilverbullet]

hey, if it worked, who cares!

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[sasilverbullet]

I'm thinking that after gaining access, I'll check it out running also, just to see how bad it is BEFORE I adjust it...



And then again afterwards...

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