moondustka

Hopefully someone can shed some light...

How do you get the aux tensioner to release it's tension? It's automatic and I'm guessing spring loaded? So, how you do get it to fold up to get a new belt on!?

Thanks!

Ben

phil_focus

get a spanner on the hex head of the pulley and either pull or push aggainst the spring, simples

moondustka

Thanks for the reply

It just seems really stiff?? I have 3 the same and none of them want to move very far.. Also it seems like the plastic ring around the edge is stopping it. None of them spring back either?

Also tried Ford, and even a technician didn't know how it worked which I thought was a bit ridiculous to be honest. Tried turning a new one there and it wouldn't budge either!

Any more info?

phil_focus

well its spring loaded so it should move against the spring.

i did mine on my 2l mk1 focus 2 years ago and i'm pretty sure i got undernieth with the spanner and pulled it towards me (towards the front of the car) to release the tension on the belt. could have done with a longer spanner though as the spring is bloody strong and i struggled a bit!

have you looked in a hayned manual? pretty sure it tells you in there or you could google search.

moondustka

Ah ok, I've been trying the other way as that's what was logical to me lol

How did you get a spanner on it and move it without just un-doing the bolt of the pulley?

Thanks!!

To be honest I haven't specifically looked in a focus haynes. Only a Mk 4 fiesta. I have a Ka and fiesta haynes, but actually now own a puma. Don't really want to buy another haynes! lol

phil_focus

different engine to mine then so may be different.

i don't think the hex head is actually a bolt, its just there to give some purchase on the pulley.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

As above, just put a spanner on the centre bolt of the tensioner pulley and turn it to release tension. As for the 'technician' at ford, sure he wasn't the cleaner? They must do it dozens of times a week!

moondustka

Which way are we turning the bolt here? clockwise, so the bolt would get tighter on the pulley and it should pivot upwards?

moondustka

Anyone? really struggling to find any more info from absolutely anywhere! So odd, these must be changed all the time!!

phil_focus

the tensioner is bolted to the engine with other bolts. it wont come off, stop thinking its a bolt. its just hex to allow you to use a spanner.

it should be obvious by looking at the car which way its pushing the belt to tension it so get a spanner on it and try it. if it doesn;t work one way then try another.

moondustka

I think we must be talking about different tensioners..

Honestly I have 3 of the damn things and none of them move one way or the other really.

Let me try and get a pick of one of them...

moondustka

The bolt on the pulley takes the pulley off.. and as you can see the one on the tensioner is just like a big pin with a round head.

P.S. this isn't my actual engine but same set up. Awful ally corrosion on there!

phil_focus

thats the one you need to put the spanner on.

it doesn't rotate on that point though, the pivot is inside the housing.
try putting a spanner on pointing up then push it left and right and if that fails try the same but with the spanner pointing down.

if it still doesn't move try something longer for more leaverage.

if it still doesn't move then it must be seized.

i've never had trouble with them though so can't imagine 3 are seized!

Can't help you any further i'm afraid without being there

moondustka

Thanks for your help! Are they really hard to push?

I was hoping that I could use a spanner and tighten that bolt to lever the pulley.

Guessing the pulley moves up to release tension as the tensioner has an arrow in the clockwise direction.