Lude Generation

Bought an ATR a while back to use as a donor for my Prelude, with it came a box full of servicing parts - cambelt, KStuned manual tensioner, water pump, tensioner pulley etc.

Whilst it was sat awaiting being stripped I left this box in the boot of the ATR over winter. Went to fit the parts to the engine this weekend prior to dropping it in the Lude and the tensioner pulley has some light surface rust suggesting some moisture has got to it while it was sitting in the boot. Although it was dry when I got it out of the box on Saturday.







The original one spins very freely and smoothly although it makes a little bit of noise - am I better using that?

This new but rusty one spins smoothly too, just has a slight resistance (I assume due to it being new)

Or do I just buy another new one?

buy a new one you will never relax while either of the other options is supporting your cambelt

£20-30 will buy you piece of mind

Disagree. Provided it hasn't been actually immersed in water, that will be absolutely fine. Clean up the rust from the seal (so there's no abrasive particles left to wear it away) and job done. It's a good quality industrial bearing, it is designed to prevent moisture ingress.
The extra resistance is indeed due to it being new and the grease not having fully distributed/thinned out yet.

Understanding your point Wurly but he doesnt know it hasnt been immersed it was in the boot and got wet could have been in the spare wheel well and could have been immersed probably not but why take the chance for the sake of £20