20v BT cambelt tensioner question

[chad85]

Hey guys, just rounding out my ae92 blacktop conversion and its all running sweet now. Was just wondering how much tension should be held on the timing belt because my belt seems to have a fair bit of play on the longer sections from the cam gears down to the tensioner pulley and crank. Just wondering if this is how they are usually or if I should replace the tensioner? I've run the engine a few times and re checked to make sure the belt hasn't slipped teeth and its all good but I have spent a $#!@ load of time on this and want to be sure its 100% sound. Also, the guy I bought the eng off told me that the tensioner was replaced not long ago.Thanks a lot.
Chad

[JP]

the blacktop tensioners aren't the most reliable pieces..

I had a brand new one fail on me after about 1000km, Mr Revhead in NZ commented at the time that he'd seen that a bit too.

I ended up shimming the idler pulley mount so I could tighten the idler bolt down when the idler was in the correct spot with the right tension on the belt. This took a lot of load off the hydraulic tensioner and kept the correct tension on the belt with my dodgey ram. Had to do this while I waited a few more weeks for another new tensioner ram out of NZ.

[chad85]

Hmm interesting. Thanks for that. Maybe I should think about replacing this one shortly. Do uno roughly how much they cost? And I believe u need to use a press to lower the pin before installation?

[JP]

mine cost me ~$100ea, they come with the pin already installed, all set to bolt on the engine.

If you pull the pin on a good tensioner or remove a good one from an engine you will need to use a vise or press to reset the pin with an allen key or similar.

[chad85]

Ok awsome. Did u just order yours through toyota?

[JP]

got two from NZ and one locally from toyota. If you take an AE111 20V VIN to your local dealer they can order it, will probably even be on in stock in Aus somewhere.

[chad85]

Ok sweet mate, would u recommend a genuine toyota one? I work about 3mins from chatswood toyota service centre in syd so could go there and get a trade discount...

[JP]

I've never seen an aftermarket one

[chad85]

Ohh I just read what u said before wrong. Thanks heaps for the info mate

[chad85]

I rang chatswood toyota spares dept this arvo. The guy I speak to there is a real champ. He said the tensioner is $110 with no discount as its an import which is fair enough. He also told me that what they used to do was just remove them and clean them up and then re-press them & put em back in and it usually got the tension back to normal cuz they apparently would get stuck, they used the same ones on the v6 camry I think he said.. So I might give that a try and see if it makes much difference and I can also test it with the specs in the blacktop manual that I have to see if its within spec.

[striken2o]

sorry to bump this back to the top

but i've recently had all the belts replaced + water pump in my ae111 and was told the tensioner was fine.

But within minutes of driving off, the tensioner had failed and was rattling like crazy, the mechanic did a quick fix (i don't know how) and it was fine till today when it started rattling again. Could it be that he didn't reattach the pulley properly ? He did have to reset the position of the tensioner when he put on the new belt, from what he told me.

He wants $210 + labour for a new one, from what i've read above is crazy
Does anyone know who can recondition the tensioner or fix it without an outrageous price ?

how much is a silver top tensioner conversion cost ?

[JP]

you cant use a silvertop tensioner without changing to a silvertop oil pump etc.

Phone Chatswood Toyota and order a tensioner from them , the labour's the killer to install it though.

[chad85]

Where do u live? I may be able to help. Also I think I just bought the last hydraulic tensioner in the country on tuesday :-P
Chad

[striken2o]

you cant use a silvertop tensioner without changing to a silvertop oil pump etc.

Phone Chatswood Toyota and order a tensioner from them , the labour's the killer to install it though.

from what i've been told, the ST tensioner is a bolt on and the only change needed is to run a silvertop timing belt

Chad, you have been PMed

[JP]

Clearly the person who told you that hasn't seen the two in person before.