Hi all, I'm going to replace the timing belt on my KH in the next couple of day, I have come across a problem, the book says to use a timing belt tensioner tool to set the tension on the belt, I am having no luck finding one, and the mits dealer wants $176 for one, I know I can get one off ebay from America, just wondering is there anyway to get around not using it? I wonder what the mechanics do? cheers

So get one off eBay. A lot cheaper than the dealer, like $35.

I bought one from eBay, but got impatient waiting for it, so I used two drill bits with the shanks in the holes and a screwdriver to tension it while tightening the bolt with the pin in. Others have cut down a socket to fit. The manual tells you to then pull the pin, rotate the engine two full turns by hand, and wait 5 minutes, then check the protrusion of the hydraulic tensioner. So you can't go wrong really, no matter what method you use.

So get one off eBay. A lot cheaper than the dealer, like $35.

I bought one from eBay, but got impatient waiting for it, so I used two drill bits with the shanks in the holes and a screwdriver to tension it while tightening the bolt with the pin in. Others have cut down a socket to fit. The manual tells you to then pull the pin, rotate the engine two full turns by hand, and wait 5 minutes, then check the protrusion of the hydraulic tensioner. So you can't go wrong really, no matter what method you use.

Thanks for that advice Madmax, I got a peice of flat metal and drilled two holes in it and put to screws in, I'm sure it will work fine, and doing those other tests as you said you can't really go wrong. I have a Haynes manual and I have been studing up on what to do plus I will be fitting a new water pump, is there any problems you have encountered fitting the timing belt and water pump?
cheers

Did the belt on a TJ at 112,000 km so it was just a matter of checking that the idlers and water pump still turned smoothly, and they were fine, so I didn't replace any of those bits. Water pump should not be a problem, as long as you have a torque wrench to do all the bolts up to the right torque. Did the same job on a TS V6 at 240,000 km, same thing, pump and internal idler was fine, but the external ones were in need of replacement. So my experience with belts = 2, waterpumps = 0. lol

Biggest hurdle is at the start, getting the pulley bolt undone. In both cases I used the socket/breaker bar/starter motor method. Doing them up is probably easiest using a rattle gun.

is this your first time doing your own timing belt?

I prefer the factory workshop manual to Haynes....plus it's free
http://www.lisho.net/?page_id=3

is this your first time doing your own timing belt?

No done one on a KR verada and a TS Magna, the TS was easy as I was fitting the motor to the car and done all the work before fitting the motor

I prefer the factory workshop manual to Haynes....plus it's free
http://www.lisho.net/?page_id=3

Thanks so much for that hako, downloading it know, cheers

Hako...You're tops! I'm downloading both and burning them to disk. I'm not super mechanical but both files at the website you linked will prove invaluable if I have to check out what a mechanic has done.

I have just ownloaded the TJ W'shop manual. It is an ISO format, but my computer cannot open the file. What programs are used to open the file?

ISO - think of it as a compacted CD. lol It needs to be burnt to a CD with a program like NERO before you can use it.

You don't need to burn the ISO to a CD or DVD, you can 'extract' it to a folder on your PC using a simple utility like IsoBuster.

You can download the free version of IsoBuster from here:

http://download.cnet.com/IsoBuster/3000-2248_4-10208087.html

Mods/Admins - if posting a link like this to a free harmless download is verboten then please remove!

Sorry to crash in on this thread, but I am as brick as a thick and cannot open anything. I downloaded the isobuster but can't seem to get much further with it. When I click directly on the downloaded file, all I get is Nero trying to burn me a copy (which I have already done). How do you guys extract information from the downloaded file? What do others do?

When I downloaded it, Nero said to burn it which I did, then I copied the burnt copy to the hard drive....but I'm sure there are easier ways.

Sorry to crash in on this thread, but I am as brick as a thick and cannot open anything. I downloaded the isobuster but can't seem to get much further with it. When I click directly on the downloaded file, all I get is Nero trying to burn me a copy (which I have already done). How do you guys extract information from the downloaded file? What do others do?

For me it downloaded as a zip file. Right click on the file and click on extract to here. This is what you should then see...

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh110/caz375/manualpic-1.jpg



Then, click on the file i've indicated with an arrow and it will install the manual on your pc desktop. To use, you then double click on the desktop icon and then click on the appropriate model and you're done.

Thanks for your help guys. I gave up and have ordered a CD from ebay. That apparently has the TF model in it.

Thanks for your help guys. I gave up and have ordered a CD from ebay. That apparently has the TF model in it.

You will just get the CD you would get if the .iso is burnt to a CD with Nero.