Manual tensioner conversion or not?

Post by **semicolin** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 1:38 pm

Looking at doing the timing belt very soon.
The only modifications I plan on having are an atr IM, k&n panel filter and possibly an aftermarket exhaust Mani. I've already got some sort of stainless exhaust on the car.
After this the car will get a tune.

Is it worth the hassle going for the manual tensioner conversion or will the auto tensioner do the job?

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 2:56 pm

Road use? Stick with auto tensioner.

Post by **4thgenphil** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 3:31 pm

wurlycorner wrote:Road use? Stick with auto tensioner.

Why?

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 3:42 pm

Because they're perfectly reliable and no drokking about having to strip down and re-tension after a while. If it's a fully loaded engine bay, or you're paying for the work to be done, that's an arse.

106pete · Post by **106pete** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 4:05 pm

Largely depends on when the last time the cambelt was done and was the tensioner changed at the time? I did mine about 4 years ago and went for a new auto tensioner, lots of track use later and it's still fine. If you start goin for cams etc I'd most defiantly go manual but gotta watch out for over tensioning and cambelt running off, although there's a mod for that too

Post by **semicolin** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 8:46 pm

Thanks guys, great advice.

Track days are highly unlikely so just road use.

I've got no idea when the belts were last changed tbh, definitely overdue though.
I'll be changing the tensioner and water pump also, ripping out the air con.
First time doing this so I'd like to keep it as simple as possible

Prelude danny · Post by **Prelude danny** » Tue Oct 13, 2015 10:16 am

I've just bought a manual tensioner kit for my lude, be used mainly for road use with the occasionally track day, I'm not doing the belt but a mechanic is, thought the manual would be the better option

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Tue Oct 13, 2015 10:23 am

Going from experience, make sure you warn the mechanic that the belt is incredibly tight with the manual conversion.

Post by **Merlin** » Tue Oct 13, 2015 10:52 am

Mega tight!!!

Craig_85 · Post by **Craig_85** » Tue Oct 13, 2015 12:43 pm

I stuck with the auto tensioner, but be warned it cost me more than I thought it would. Bought the hydraulic tensioner part only but when we stripped it down the entire auto tensioner was failing, the collar and pulley assembly that pivots had worn and the belt was slowly slipping off so that was another £300...

Lude Generation

Manual tensioner conversion or not?

Manual tensioner conversion or not?

Re: Manual tensioner conversion or not?