Guys,
 
Just wondering how the cam belt tensioner works. Its on an eccentric, and as you turn it, it gets tighter or looser depending on which way you go - thats all cool - but then to lock it where you want you seem to just tighten up the big nut on the front (25mm-ish) as hard as you can.
 
Is that it? Seems like it would have a good chance of slipping to me. At least on a pinto you are clamping down a "slider" which has a lot more surface area, plus the "post".
 
Can anyone send me a link to the manual that shows if this is all there is to it? A slipped belt would mean bye-bye engine, so I want to be sure.
 
Cheers
Ash

Hi Ash,
 
I dont have a scanner to scan the manual, but can give you some more info.
 
The tensioner will tension both clockwise and anti clockwise. One way gets to close to the thermostat housing, the other way is correct(cant remember which it is off hand but try and you will see).
 
There is a torque spec for the nut...as long as you have the correct nut it will lock up ok. You can get away without using a torque wrench but you will need experience to know when its right.
 
The surface area of the head and the back of the tensioner when in contact are quite large, this is enough to hold it steady once the nut is torqued. 
 
The trick is to know when the belt is tight enough, then hold the tensioner steady while tightening the lock nut. Generally you should be able to turn the belt almost 90 degrees on its longest run. Too loose and you will see the belt flapping about as the engine runs, to tight and it gives of a soft but odd noise. Again experience is ideal to know for sure.
 
You could take a vid and post a link if you cant get someone you trust to check it locally. 
 
Cheers,
 
Phil.
 

Cheers phil. If that's the way it's meant to be, then that's fine.

I've got it a bit tight at the moment. I can just twist it 90 degrees, so I'll go with that and see how much noise it makes.

Ash