timing belt and tensioner

[installman]

I upgraded my timing belt to a better one, can't remember who makes the damn thing, and replaced the tensioner just 2k ago. I'm out cruising today and stop to say hi to a friend, we pop the hood and I notice my timing belt is quite loose. I've got at least a 1/2"of play which doesn't seem right. I baby it back to the shop, pop the hood and it seems to be okay, very little play. This tells me the belt hasn't stretched but why would it be loose and then 10 minutes later okay? What belt is everyone else using? Is there a performance tensioner available?

The only thing about when I stopped the car to talk I popped the clutch, idiot, and stalled. Could I have locked up the tensioner??? And starting the car fixed it? Having lost a motor already I'm just a little paranoid. What kind of play in the belt is normal??

Installman

[Sponsor]

[1turbofocus]

If you had backlash like popping the clutch and stall ,if the engine was to stop going backwords this loosens the self adjusting tentioner

Just look to make sure your groove and slot is ligned up in your tentioner when running and you good to go this will also help with belt stretch but i dont feel these belts do stretch

Tom

[installman]

Thanks Tom. So I take the car down to Ford to let them see and I pop the hood and it's fine! The tensioner is in the groove but at the shop this morning it was loose enough I could spin the pulley beside the tensioner with my finger. Could it depend on crank and cam position when I shut off the car? I would think it should be tight no matter what. Is there an adjustment I could do to keep it tight at all times?


Installman

[1turbofocus]

there is a slot and a grove in the tentioner where you have to set the tentioner so it has room to move , it will allways move SOME but should never be loose, Im wondering if you havent adjusted it to its proper poing

If you will call me in the morning i will talk you through checking it 704-827-3944

Tom

[installman]

Thanks for your help Tom, I'll call you in the morning.

Keith

[installman]

Tom, Thanks again for your help the other day. I just wanted to be 100% clear, we turn the engine the way it runs and the guide should line up with the mark on the tensioner, correct?

Thanks again

Keith