[Bullcitybmmer]

Hi folks, I'm in a little bit of a bind. I was replacing the belt on my 335, and the T60 thread on the tensioner pulley stripped out, so I can't compress the spring any more. I went ahead and bought a new tensioner pulley setup and was just going to replace the whole assembly, but when I went to remove the old one, I realized that the little tab that stops the spring from completely uncoiling (circled on the picture below) has literally sheared off.

At this point I'm completely stumped.... I can't compress the thing the normal way to get it into the service position, and I can't take the whole thing off without risking the spring fully uncorking and doing some real damage. I have the fan off, but I still don't really have enough room to get any sort of pry bar in there to try and compress it the old school way.

Any ideas?

[weehe126]

Just take it off carefully. I busted off the T60 fitting trying to loosen it the wrong direction. Ended up just unbolting the tensioner at full tension slowly and nothing flew off.

[Bullcitybmmer]

Originally Posted by weehe126

Just take it off carefully. I busted off the T60 fitting trying to loosen it the wrong direction. Ended up just unbolting the tensioner at full tension slowly and nothing flew off.

Hi folks, wanted to give an update here in case anyone else winds up in this same scenario. After trying everything, I was completely stuck and resigned myself to the fact that my only option was unbolting the whole tensioner assembly and letting the spring go and do whatever it was going to do. I was able to take a crowbar and compress the spring enough to stick a screwdriver in the little service position hole and catch against the block, preventing it from completely uncoiling.

I then un-bolted pretty much everything that I could: The pulley right next to it, the oil lines going from the cooler to the filter housing, and the coolant line going to the filter housing. After getting all of that off, I wedged my crowbar back in there and tried to let the tension off as carefully as I could. It went about 1" further than it had been and completely fell apart harmlessly. Crisis averted... no major damage.

[Pladi]

Thanks for the update. Does anyone know which way you turn the wrench to relieve tension ? If you are looking from the fron is it towards the driver or passenger ?

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by Bullcitybmmer

Hi folks, wanted to give an update here in case anyone else winds up in this same scenario. After trying everything, I was completely stuck and resigned myself to the fact that my only option was unbolting the whole tensioner assembly and letting the spring go and do whatever it was going to do. I was able to take a crowbar and compress the spring enough to stick a screwdriver in the little service position hole and catch against the block, preventing it from completely uncoiling.

I then un-bolted pretty much everything that I could: The pulley right next to it, the oil lines going from the cooler to the filter housing, and the coolant line going to the filter housing. After getting all of that off, I wedged my crowbar back in there and tried to let the tension off as carefully as I could. It went about 1" further than it had been and completely fell apart harmlessly. Crisis averted... no major damage.

Great idea. Good to know that a pry bar can compress it in the event of a total failure.

[Bullcitybmmer]

Originally Posted by Pladi

Thanks for the update. Does anyone know which way you turn the wrench to relieve tension ? If you are looking from the fron is it towards the driver or passenger ?

Clockwise. So generally, looking from the front, with the wrench handle sticking up in the air, it would move towards the driver's side.

[drwillb]

I took the easy road ( I think you guys were trying to over think this).

The torx female notch in the tab piece for relieving pressure on the belt stripped in my case. I tried all kinds of tools and levers but couldn’t ease the pressure on the belt.

Solution: cut the belt.

I figured, what the hell, I’ve got a new belt and a new tensioner to put back.

[Pladi]

Originally Posted by drwillb

I took the easy road ( I think you guys were trying to over think this).

The torx female notch in the tab piece for relieving pressure on the belt stripped in my case. I tried all kinds of tools and levers but couldn’t ease the pressure on the belt.

Solution: cut the belt.

I figured, what the hell, I’ve got a new belt and a new tensioner to put back.

hahahahah thats amazing so true.. you must be an artist because that is one creative mind...

[Bullcitybmmer]

Originally Posted by drwillb

I took the easy road ( I think you guys were trying to over think this).

The torx female notch in the tab piece for relieving pressure on the belt stripped in my case. I tried all kinds of tools and levers but couldn’t ease the pressure on the belt.

Solution: cut the belt.

I figured, what the hell, I’ve got a new belt and a new tensioner to put back.

That's a valid solution if the belt had not already been removed, and the tab preventing the tensioner spring from completely uncoiling had not broken off, lodging it against the pulley beside it.

Hence, the "over thinking this".

[Aldor27]

Me being the idiot I am snapped part of the tensioner by trying to "loosen" the tension counter clock wise. I am about to put in the new tensioner but theres a random tiny O Ring that came with the tensioner kit. Where do I put this tiny O Ring?

[weehe126]

Originally Posted by Aldor27

Me being the idiot I am snapped part of the tensioner by trying to "loosen" the tension counter clock wise. I am about to put in the new tensioner but theres a random tiny O Ring that came with the tensioner kit. Where do I put this tiny O Ring?

Between the engine and tensioner on the bolt. It helps hold the bolt in place so they don't fall apart while installing.