soldave Posted December 11, 2021 Report Share Posted December 11, 2021 (edited) Note to self: Always take photos before you do work Can someone please let me know where I've gone wrong here? Got the auto tensioner back on after some blood, sweat and tears, but the tensioner seems to be sitting too far out compared to the belt even though there doesn't feel to be any contact with the crank pulley. My current setup also means the alternator strap won't fit anywhere. Should the 5mm spacers go in front of the tensioner (i.e. towards the fruit of the car) or is between tensioner and metal plate correct? I wondered about spacers going in front but then it feels like the lock screw on the tensioner piston won't be able to turn. Please be kind - I know I shouldn't be struggling with this! Edited December 11, 2021 by soldave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXCEL V8 Posted December 11, 2021 Report Share Posted December 11, 2021 I'm not very familiar with the semi-auto tensioners but that looks way too close to the crank pulley, and appears to be in contact with the front oil seal housing. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soldave Posted December 11, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2021 4 minutes ago, EXCEL V8 said: I'm not very familiar with the semi-auto tensioners but that looks way too close to the crank pulley, and appears to be in contact with the front oil seal housing. Pete I can rotate the engine and there doesn't feel like there's rubbing in the crank pulley area but you're 100% right it doesn't look right. But the only way to get the tensioner closer to the body is: Moving the spacers to the outside of the tensioner - makes no sense Removing the spacer plate which my "dummy" AC pulley goes on - would mean v-belt isn't aligned Remove the aluminium "arm" between spacer plate and engine - would mean v-belt isn't aligned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydclements Posted December 11, 2021 Report Share Posted December 11, 2021 I recall them being close but not that close. A couple of pics of other engines. https://www.lotustalk.com/threads/belt-tensioner-design-change.133778/#lg=thread-133778&slide=0 The second being from this blog https://majcd213.blogspot.com/2015/10/back-to-car-removing-head-excel-912.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soldave Posted December 11, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2021 4 minutes ago, andydclements said: I recall them being close but not that close. A couple of pics of other engines. https://www.lotustalk.com/threads/belt-tensioner-design-change.133778/#lg=thread-133778&slide=0 The second being from this blog https://majcd213.blogspot.com/2015/10/back-to-car-removing-head-excel-912.html Thanks for the pics. Yeah, it looks like mine is just a mm or two too far forward. Might have to loosen the tensioner bolts and try to find out why. I do have to remove one of them to get the alternator strap back on anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXCEL V8 Posted December 11, 2021 Report Share Posted December 11, 2021 Or dump the semi-auto tensioner and fit a manual type? Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soldave Posted December 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 Well after a couple of hours this morning removing the spacers and resetting the auto-tensioner, it's all fitted and looks much better. Still unsure where those spacers came from - will just take it as Stage 1 weight saving! Next on the list, flushing the coolant without flooding the garage when I open the radiator drain valve! Some sort of canal for the coolant is going to be needed methinks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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