I'm installing a timing belt on a b16a2 and I cannot for the life of me get the tensioner to pick up the slack. I've followed the directions in the helms.

Line the crank pully up at TDC.
Line the cam gears up at TDC via the center marks (closest each other).
With tensioner bolt tight go around the exhaust gear first then the intake
Losen and retighten the tensioner bolt
Turn the crank 5 - 6 times counter clockwise
set back to TDC and losen the tensioner bolt 180* (1/2 turn)
Rotate crank counter clockwise by three teeth on the cam gear
retighten the tensioner bolt.

All fine and dandy.... but even after I do all that there is still a ton of slack. So much in fact I can pull the belt off without even losen the tensioner.

What is the problem here??? Could the tensioner be shot?

 

it's either a worn timing belt, or a worn tensioner. it can't be anything else.

 

use a clothes hanger and pull up on the tensioner before you tighten it

 

did u change the tensioner pulley spring???when i swapped my cams i changed my tbelt at the same time...it wouldnt tighten for shiyyt....all i did was swap out the tensioner pulley spring and it tightened up no problem

 

I get a screwdriver and push on the tensioner while someone else tightens the 14mm bolt that holds it down.