Timing Belt Deflection

95'BlackP-Finder · Nov 20th, 2007, 04:48 PM

I'm Re-timing my Pathy, 95' XE right now and I'm nearly completed, it's just I'm a little concerned about the tension on the belt being correct as I have no way to measure it properly..I followed all the steps EXCEPT putting 22 LBS of force on the belt?..Why would one need to do that? Then i Put a 14mm feeler gauge in between the belt and tensioner, while holding it steady, then turned her twice, all lined up, but I'm just curious on how accurate the deflection is? Any way to measure it without a special tool? Thanks in advance.Heath J.

**88pathoffroad** · Nov 21st, 2007, 07:30 PM

Grab the belt between the cams with your hands. You should be able to twist it almost exactly 90 degrees. More than that and it's too loose, less and it's too tight. An Allen wrench inserted into the tensioner should point down at approximately 5:30 when the tensioner is set correctly.

95'BlackP-Finder · Nov 21st, 2007, 09:19 PM

I'm guessing I got it about right, "I hope so anyways," because I remembered reading one of your posts about that position being around the 5:00 o'clock position. But isn't 5:30 right about where the crank nose is at?..I'm a little before that with the allen wrench installed in the tensioner..I actually measured the belt deflection to about a half inch with that too, I used a ruler and measured it..LOL..It started and sounded good..Drove good..No overheating like before..I'm hoping it's good for another 100,000 miles...Thanks..Peace...!!..............Heath J.

95'BlackP-Finder · Nov 23rd, 2007, 11:20 PM

Okay, I got my Pathfinder out of the shop today.Yay!..Apparently I'm setting the allen wrench in a different location than you guys getting the 5:30 measurement..I say this because I started at the 12:00 position way at the beginning while installing the tensioner, then after all the appropriate steps 70-80 degrees thing ended up right before I hit the crankshaft nose. Which by my calculation would be 4:00?..I checked the tension and between the cams and measured 1/2..No strange noises, actually less lifter noise than before.!..Maybe that loose belt/more valve-train noise theory had some truth behind it after all..Peace..Heath J.