adjusting Cam Belt tension

[Quicker]

DIYer's - I need some help.

I am a new owner, working through all the its&bits to make sure my 89 SE is perfect.

My Krikit gauge arrived yesterday - after measuring I am now needing to adjust (it was scary low).

I have the belly pan off, the cam gears and crank at TDC - but can't get a good look at the tensioner - no matter how a position the light and mirror.

After searching for a while - does anyone have a good pic of the tensioner? I would like to see what I am working on.

This is the best pic I could google....

it appears I loosen the top nut, adjust the position of the pulley using the inner nut, then tighten the outer nut down - is that correct? the top is a 17mm and the inner is a 19mm?

thanks for your help.

[DanR]

You have it correct.

Make sure to keep the elipitical part downwards. Should the locking nut ever become loose the tensioner will move into a self-tightening position rather than loosen off completely and disengage the teeth.

[Quicker]

uggghh.

this is the pic of that - bouncing off my mirror - though the other accessory belts with the motor still in the car....

sweet... ;<

[DanR]

Are you working from underneath the car. Easier to see and orient yourself from that angle.

[Quicker]

yep - that's the crank pulley in the fore-front.

what is the right way to get the 19mm spanner on it? from which side? behind which belts?

[Guest Troy Halliday]

Isn't the kriket gauge meant for V belts and unsuitable for cam belts

[DanR]

Troy, I have the proper Lotus one, a standard Burroughs and the Kriket. They are all within a couple of pounds of each other even though the Kriket isn't specifically for cam belts. I've got similar consistencies on other engines too.

Lou, have you tried using a 19mm stepped ring spanner?

[fjmuurling]

Another way to check the tension is with a laptop and a computer, search for tuneit on this forum to find the way i did it. I modified a 10mm ringspanner in order to have better access. The modifying I did was heating the spanner and adjusting the angle.

Freek

[Vulcan Grey]

http://vulcangrey.lotuscolorado.com/TravisT-beltchange.doc

[Quicker]

thanks guys.

I followed some advice from Tim Engel - came at it from the top, pulled the alternator and bracket....

got it done!