[sasilverbullet]

Yes, I took the plunge! Much easier than I expected - and a miracle I did it when I did!!



The belt was so loose!! (see pic below)



Now it's like it should be and all the vibration that I had in the shifter is gone!!!



   

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[apex]

way to go silver! good work!



you need some tighter gloves. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> (kidding)

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[Stephenwz968]

Did you need a special wrench to hold the eccentric bolt?



Steve

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[968rz]

Congratulations to a well done job.

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[Nenehubert]

I was a bit apprehensive about adjusting mine the first time, but after i bit my lip and started it, it hasn't squealed one bit. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Congrats!

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[Scott Collins]

[quote name='Nenehubert' post='28694' date='Dec 3 2006, 07:16 PM']I was a bit apprehensive about adjusting mine the first time, but after i bit my lip and started it, it hasn't squealed one bit. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Congrats![/quote]



Way to go! I have heard from some that if the balance belt is not

tensioned properly and goes, that it can take out the timing belt along with it. Yeow!



I have done this job without the "special" tools, and it's not that bad. I used two open-ended wrenches. Took the plunge one day when I just got fed up with hearing that thing squeel. It was so obnoxious that I would get strange looks while driving through a parking lot. I was even tempted, just for a second, to

do it with the engine running, because that would save a lot of time, and the rotating sprockets would provide the immediate feedback I wanted. Basically to make it squeel, then back it off, and do it again a few times to get it just right and lock it in. But then I remembered that I enjoy having all 10 fingers.

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[sasilverbullet]

Standard 27mm open end wrench worked fine - didn't need to grind it down. Along with a 6 point 15mm socket for the lock down nut.



Be Brave!

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[apex]

standard wrench works... whaddaya know... I just purchased the custom tool set from arnworx - the spanner tool and the narrow-profile-angled 27mm wrench.



however, I don't think I paid much more than I would have to give sears for a standard 27mm wrench - which would still pretty much be a single-purpose tool anyway. sooooo.... nice to know we have two options!

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[Ryan]

Wait, how does a toothed belt squeel???

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[apex]

[quote name='Ryan' post='28713' date='Dec 4 2006, 03:08 PM']Wait, how does a toothed belt squeel???[/quote]





I thought he was referring the high-pitched whine from a too-tight belt. I wouldn't characterize the sound as a "squeal" like a slipping PS belt, thought.

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[TonyBray]

The belt in the pic that was loose was the balance shaft belt, not the timing belt. If they get loose enough, they will jump teeth on the sprockets and instead of eliminating vibration, they ADD serious vibration. Don't ask me how I know <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Other than the vibrations, it's not a serious issue like having the timing belt jump teeth.



--Tony

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[sasilverbullet]

if the balance belt jumps a tooth, will it be REAL noticeable, or just a slight increase?

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[TonyBray]

Real noticable! The balance shafts rotate in opposite directions, at twice the crank speed to eliminate the vibrations. If you look at the balance shaft itself, it has a weight on it shaped like a cam lobe. As long as BOTH balance shafts are in sync with each other, they cancel out their own vibration. But if either shaft gets out of time, they BOTH become very big vibrators, just like the one in my cell phone. It's nothing more than a small motor with a small weight on the end of the shaft which is bent. The technology was licensed from Mazda. Porsche tried repeatedly to design a better system but in the end paid royalties to Mazda.



--Tony

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[Bob Kovacs]

[quote name='TonyBray' post='28766' date='Dec 6 2006, 08:22 AM']The technology was licensed from Mazda. Porsche tried repeatedly to design a better system but in the end paid royalties to Mazda.[/quote]

Small point but I thought that balance shaft technology was licensed from Mitsubishi. My 1984 Dodge Colt Vista wagon (built by Mitsubishi) had an engine with a balance shaft, but I'm sure there are many earlier examples.



--Bob

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