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  #1  
Old 09-23-2013, 07:09 AM
mav17 mav17 is offline
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Default How to install Timing Belt Tensioner/Pulley?!

Hi all. I'm in desperate need of some help. I'm midway through a head gasket swap and have seemed to fubar'd the process where the timing belt tensioner goes back on.

I completely took out both bolts (17mm w/ spring on it, and the 13mm) and removed the tensioner. Now how the hell does one go about reinstalling that damn 17mm so that both the spring arms are underneath the notches!? it seems almost impossible without some sort of special tool.
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Old 09-23-2013, 11:23 AM
snakebite snakebite is offline
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Default Re: How to install Timing Belt Tensioner/Pulley?!

I believe I used a screwdriver. If I recall, position the spring under the smaller notch, install the bolt part way, then push the spring under the other notch with the screwdriver.

Last edited by snakebite; 09-23-2013 at 11:26 AM.
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Old 09-27-2013, 01:36 AM
Splash Ranger Splash Ranger is offline
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Default Re: How to install Timing Belt Tensioner/Pulley?!

Snakebite is correct. I replaced the tensioner on mine last week when i put a new timing belt on.
Be lucky your not running an interferance engine. If something goes wrong, your truck will just die without any damage.
Do as he said though, and you should be fine.
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Old 09-27-2013, 06:30 AM
mav17 mav17 is offline
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Default Re: How to install Timing Belt Tensioner/Pulley?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by snakebite View Post
I believe I used a screwdriver. If I recall, position the spring under the smaller notch, install the bolt part way, then push the spring under the other notch with the screwdriver.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Splash Ranger View Post
Snakebite is correct. I replaced the tensioner on mine last week when i put a new timing belt on.
Be lucky your not running an interferance engine. If something goes wrong, your truck will just die without any damage.
Do as he said though, and you should be fine.
yup i did just that. Was actually a lot easier than i thought. getting the adjustment bolt in (13mm) was the tough part. Large screwdriver did the trick. Well so far my truck has gone 20 or so miles and it doesn't sound like anythings getting mauled inside the head or block so i take it i did things correctly.
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Old 09-27-2013, 11:30 PM
Splash Ranger Splash Ranger is offline
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Default Re: How to install Timing Belt Tensioner/Pulley?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mav17 View Post
yup i did just that. Was actually a lot easier than i thought. getting the adjustment bolt in (13mm) was the tough part. Large screwdriver did the trick. Well so far my truck has gone 20 or so miles and it doesn't sound like anythings getting mauled inside the head or block so i take it i did things correctly.
Thats good.
When i first put my timing belt back on, my blind dad "thought" he had found the marks, but didnt. I should have checked, but he was sure. To be honest, im not sure why he was even there lol.
The truck had a horrible miss and wouldnt run over 30 mph and wouldnt climb hills.
After i took it back off, he had it off 3 or 4 notches and thats how much of a difference it made. I set it correctly and it runs great now.
I have a feeling im gonna be replacing a few timing belts over the years. Its not bad, its just time consuming.
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Old 09-28-2013, 06:46 AM
mav17 mav17 is offline
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Default Re: How to install Timing Belt Tensioner/Pulley?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Splash Ranger View Post
Thats good.
When i first put my timing belt back on, my blind dad "thought" he had found the marks, but didnt. I should have checked, but he was sure. To be honest, im not sure why he was even there lol.
The truck had a horrible miss and wouldnt run over 30 mph and wouldnt climb hills.
After i took it back off, he had it off 3 or 4 notches and thats how much of a difference it made. I set it correctly and it runs great now.
I have a feeling im gonna be replacing a few timing belts over the years. Its not bad, its just time consuming.
Ehhh can't blame dads for trying to help. Just gotta be extra careful next time, i read somewhere that setting the timing off can literally destroy a motor.

And on that note, i must've celebrated too soon. Took the truck out for a 20 mile or so drive, finally threw her on the highway too, and now she's shooting white smoke out the from where the intake mani and head meet, loss of power and loud ticking noise. She even stalled out on me a couple times and had to let her sit for about an hour before i could turn her on again. So much for the head gasket being the only issue with this engine

She was driving fine too for the first 50 or so miles i put on her. Then again i never really took her past 50mph till i hit the highway.

Last edited by mav17; 09-28-2013 at 06:48 AM.
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Old 09-28-2013, 11:49 PM
Splash Ranger Splash Ranger is offline
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Default Re: How to install Timing Belt Tensioner/Pulley?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mav17 View Post
Ehhh can't blame dads for trying to help. Just gotta be extra careful next time, i read somewhere that setting the timing off can literally destroy a motor.

And on that note, i must've celebrated too soon. Took the truck out for a 20 mile or so drive, finally threw her on the highway too, and now she's shooting white smoke out the from where the intake mani and head meet, loss of power and loud ticking noise. She even stalled out on me a couple times and had to let her sit for about an hour before i could turn her on again. So much for the head gasket being the only issue with this engine

She was driving fine too for the first 50 or so miles i put on her. Then again i never really took her past 50mph till i hit the highway.
Dads are fine, even when your in your 30's like me

If you have an interferance motor, which i believe most of the v6's do, then yes, you might as well plan on replacing an engine because a 30 dollar timing belt broke. If its a non interferance like mine, which i believe most 4 cylinders arent, then the truck just shuts off and kicks out of gear and no harm is done. Im not sure why or what the difference is when it comes to Ford not making the V6's non interferance engines, but for some reason they didnt.

Well, if its blowing out white smoke, it doesnt sound like a timing problem at all. What did you seal the gasket back up with. A chiltons manual could help you out big time with relooking at what you did with your head gasket.
To be honest, i know its a pain staking process. Did you clean the surface well before installing the gasket? You also need to really clean your heads and intake.
Ive found with these rangers, if an intake is dirty, it can really cause problems. I have a K&N filter on mine and reguarly clean my lhose, but I also spray some WD40 into the intake and wipe it out about every oil change. These trucks build up a lot of sut that can rest in the way of your gasket as well and may be causing you problems.
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