reuse timing belt tensioner??

[99blueb5]

I just bought a whole timingbelt pakage and had everything lined up and found out that the woodruff key for the timing belt pulley on the crank snapped, and I was wondering if I can reuse my tensioner even though it has been fully expanded before, I've herd some peoplesay to just slowley compress it in a vice and put the pin back in, and some say u need a whole new tensior, who is right?

[317ssayzarc]

I only do not reuse when the tensioner has been used in a running car. I will reuse a tensioner that is brand new and has been slowly compressed in a vice, c-clamp, ect. But even with 100 miles on it, I just don't reuse tensioners, call it personal preference

[99blueb5]

yeah that's what I was thinking too, it's cheap insurance

[Midniteoyl]

found out that the woodruff key for the timing belt pulley on the crank snapped

You broke the key, or it was broke prompting the TB change?

[99blueb5]

the deal was I saw the crank pulley not sitting straight then I realized the crank bolt was loose, took everything apart and they key was not there instead it was ground up into a bunch of peices of metal, got a new keyway, and now i'm just getting all my parts lined up so I'm not missing anything, so yes this is what prompted the tb job

[Midniteoyl]

Damn... good catch! Never seen a crank pulley bolt come loose. Another thing to look out for I guess.

[InTTruder]

NEVER reuse the tensioner: it is what actually fails in most timing belt 'incidents'.

[GR-RALLYE]

So if the pins been pulled then just get a new one even if it fully expanded before being taken off

[99blueb5]

bummpp...

[im sofa king]

i've re-used if it was only expanded to check your timing. It will be fine, just collapse it real slow and carefully again. But if your real worried, go get a new one. They are cheap enough to give you complete reassurance.

[1NaudiA4]

theres a big allen key hole in the pulley thats how you compress it. You don't need to take it off and put it in a vise or any of that B.S. then just put one of those big paper clips as a pin to hold it.

[djwimbo]

I'm reusing the one that's on my 1.8T right now. WHY? you might ask? Because I don't give a F*CK.

The car is sold and those pistons have already met some valves in their lifetime. Why not risk doing it again?
In all seriousness, the tensioner I'm reusing only has <15K on it, so I don't really feel bad about it. If it were leaking, or had shown any signs of imminent failure, I would replace it.

We'll see soon enough. The turd outside is going back together. It'll run and drive this week if all goes well. I wanted to get it done today, but the turbo was FUBAR and the oil cooler cracked. On top of that I had to fix a buddy's GTP and sell/install my C/F hood. So today wasn't that productive on that biotch.

[MEDEL51480]

I'm about to reuse my tensioner, that's how I came across this thread.

I just did the water pump/timing belt kit 2 months ago in November, and I probably have less than 500 miles on the engine, now I think the head gasket is leaking. Now I gotta take everything back off, and rather than buy a new $60 tensioner, I want to compress and reuse a 2 month old/under 500 mile tensioner.

What do you guys think?

[walky_talky20]

Should be fine. I much prefer to compress it by hand* rather than in a vise. That way you can feel it go back in. Go too fast and you blow out the seals. It should take a few minutes to compress it.

*I'm actually Superman, so that makes it pretty easy.

[Tanzimur]

Yup I have reused mine on my recent swap it looked fine from my old block and what not seems pretty new no leaks or nothing so gave it a shot...

[seanf86]

you can reuse them, mine was compressed a total of 5-6 times before the seals gave out and I had to replace it, as long as you're careful compressing it you'll be fine

[Royal769sr]

I personally have reused my tensioner "01 AWM and have had no problems.... Hope I didn't jinx myself..