GEN 1 3.0 Timing Belt Tensioner Tool

[Deleted member 144409]

Any suggestion on this where to get or how to create this piece of hardware which I'm guessing is as common as a rainbow colored unicorn?

Thanks!

 

[kalieracer]

https://www.jbtoolsales.com/otc-522...eydSbC_J9BV7Qz6Vzjys6sxyhx-iu6lMaAllUEALw_wcB

 

[Toasty]

How about a wrench?

 

[Deleted member 144409]

Thanks, kalieracer! That looks much better than the jam-knee-into-fender-push-feet-off-wall-grind-thumb-onto-tensioner-pin method I've been using.

 

[plh]

you don't need this for a Gen 1 3.0l

 

[Deleted member 144409]

Damn. Am I back to the painful method?

 

[Toasty]

No, your engine doesn't require a special tool. It's got the old spring tensioner assuming you don't have a newer engine swapped in.

 

[Deleted member 144409]

So there's no tool to hold back the tensioner while I mount the belt?

 

[Toasty]

It's low tension, pry it over, tighten the nut to hold it open then release when the belt is in place. You have a service manual?

 

[Deleted member 144409]

Yes. I did this a couple of months ago and it was quite painful as I used my thumb/arm/torso/leg/wall. Which I didn't enjoy. And my shoulder is too jacked up to consider this method.

Every time I turned the bolt loose the belt jolted and all the timing marks went AWOL. I have no idea how many times I did this until I got everything in line.

Is there a better way?

I appreciate anything that can make this easier. Thanks!

 

[Monty85]

I used this tool to do my Gen3. I know its much easier to use this than try to hold and pull tensioner with finger. Back side mounts to any 1/4inch driver ratchet wrench.

How I got this tool is I looked up FSM for Gen3 montero and looked up part number for the special tool they list at the beginning of timing belt section. Once you google that p/n, many sellers are available. I used amazon or ebay. Cant remember.

 

[Deleted member 144409]

Yah...that one is similar to kaliracers. :-/

 

[Monty85]

Right, there is no special tool listed on Gen1 FSM either. Not sure why you are experiencing hard time rotating it counterclock wise. It should not be that hard, but may be your shoulder problem is what I dont know. Sorry can't help much.

 

[plh]

I used this tool to do my Gen3. I know its much easier to use this than try to hold and pull tensioner with finger. Back side mounts to any 1/4inch driver ratchet wrench.

How I got this tool is I looked up FSM for Gen3 montero and looked up part number for the special tool they list at the beginning of timing belt section. Once you google that p/n, many sellers are available. I used amazon or ebay. Cant remember.

This tool doesn't work on the early 3.0l engines. AFAIK there isn't a tool for these.

 

[airbats801]

there is no tool for a gen 1 swb. If you are having issues remove the spring that tensions the belt, set your timing on your cam gears, move your crank gear 1 tooth ccw, set your belt, use your hand to keep a little tension on the tensioner, then rotate the crank cw and by the time it takes the slack out of the belt, you should be aligned properly, now carefully reinstall the spring. A decent pair of needle nose should work. I find it's easier to pull the spring from the tensioner and hook it to the engine.

after that, spin the engine a bit then tighten the tensioner bolt