Timing Belt Tensioner How to:
Loosen the center lock bolt about one turn, no need to go more than that. This should allow the black stamped steel piece under the bolt head to rotate. There will either be a 1/4" socket extension hole in it or a 6mm allen head hole in it. Gently rotate the center piece CLOCKWISE. You will see the pulley move "down" and to the left slightly. This will allow you to just barely sneak the belt over the pulley. Get all the slack out of the belt between the crank, water pump and both cam gears. Then use the allen wrench or extension and start to turn the center piece COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. Eventually you will see the small aluminum bracket on the back side of the pulley start to "float" and rotate clockwise when the assembly starts to put pressure on the belt. When the small opening in the center of that aluminum bracket lines up with the exposed spring wire tang, the tension is set. Hole the allen wrench/extension and tighten the lock bolt. Rotate the engine assembly over a couple of times and look at the location of the aluminum bracket and spring tang to be sure they are close to where you set them. It's very easy to set the tension with this design. Eventually I'll get a how-to put together for the Archives since the same procedure applies to late model SOHC and 2.4