Hey guys. I have searched through all the archives on the site regarding to setting timing belt tension. I have never seen a completely direct answer on this so that's why I ask. I set the tension according to helm's manual and I have good tension from the camshaft down to the crank. However the other side is much looser. When I turn the engine over some of that looseness goes over to the crank/cam side and then back around to the exaust side. Is this unacceptable? Do I need to pull up on that spring myself with the coathanger? My teeth are dead on the marks, I cranked the engine through 4-5 times and have done everything to spec. Thanks and hope i'm not beating a dead horse I just couldn't find any post in the archives saying straight up that equal tension should be on BOTH sides of the cam or if you are going to have more tension on the cam/crank side than the exhaust side.

 

there will always be some slack. But I always just give the tensioner pulley a light tug before tightening everything down (no muscle just lightly).
If you can slide the belt easily on the pulleys the belt is too loose.

 

Don't try to make it as tight as your alternator/AC belt. Since the timing belt has teeth, it doesn't need that kind of tension. Like MooGo says, just pull the tensioner lightly. Or not at all.

If the belt makes whining noises, that's too tight.

 

I know to tighten the slack you loosen the tension pulley bolt a turn or two and turn the crank pulley bolt half a turn or so until its not so loose. Then tighten the bolt back up. This is only if it is loose, like the other post say it is supposed to have some slack.

 

The "other posts" that say there is slack are dummies!
Turn the crank till all slack is out of the front/long side of the T-belt, then use you finger to push the tensioner up. tighten it down. The little spring on the end of the tensioner arm will turn/wiggle easily and be fully collapsed. [makes you wonder why they put it on there anyway]
The tension on the front side might change a little depending on the cam position, no big deal.