What do you think about it?

I think I might get it if everyone thinks it's a solid option.

http://www.store.partsdinosaur.com/product1781.html

there are plenty of differing opinions on it here, some like it some hate it. just run a quick search for mechanical tensioner and you should get some good threads on it

I use it. It takes out the chance of the nipple breaking off the the tensioner pulley where the hydraulic arm pushes on it.

I have no issues. I know of many cars running around Phoenix using them. Install it correctly and you'll be fine. The install pics and tension setting video on the Parts Dinosauer website were done by me.

http://www.partsdinosaur.com/page6.html

http://www.store.partsdinosaur.com/product1781.html

does anyone runnin the mech. version notice if it helps tone down some of the high-end vibration? I seem to get some from the hyd. version and thought about swappin over.

Installed it yesterday. Most unfriendly godforsaken device ever. Literally double the time I usually do the timing belt change in.

It's a PITA to tension it correctly when the engine is in the car, because you have to line up the wire by visualizing it. Unlike the hydrolic, where you can look at your torque wrench as you tension, and double check that things are properly tensioned correctly by moving a pin freely through the tensioner. For the mechanical, I had to strategically place a mirror to see things.

It is very difficult to get the belt over this device. They say if you have the pin lined up, rotate the engine two times and see if the pin is still lined up. Yea, that happens 1 time in 5 or 6. Even better, when the pin is lined up after 2 revs, if you run the engine and double check again (they don't say do this in the directions, but I wanted to check), that pin is out of the groove again.
So then you repeat the tension process again. I must have done it 20 times. :censored

I think Satan made it himself. I thought I was supposed to feel more secure with this thing on my car, so I don't end up with a broken tensioner pulley bolt or something. But I don't trust this device at all.

Originally posted by justins71
does anyone runnin the mech. version notice if it helps tone down some of the high-end vibration? I seem to get some from the hyd. version and thought about swappin over.

I haven't really noticed any vibration with either... however, they've posted a graph of timing belt tension vs. engine RPM that might help answer your question:



I thought the installation was a little confusing at first, but it turned out (in my case at least) that it was just simpler than I expected. Then again, I installed the timing components with the engine outside of the car, so Ez's statements are probably just as valid for in-car installations.

i got rid of mine, i thought it was garbage.

Originally posted by Slo2g
I use it. It takes out the chance of the nipple breaking off the the tensioner pulley where the hydraulic arm pushes on it.

Is this something that happens often? I guess I never heard on it. Why go through all the trouble of changing something that already works. Its not like the mechanical one is going to net you HP. I'm not even sure what the benefits of it really are. But hey, I could be wrong.

Originally posted by eclipse982nrRST
i got rid of mine, i thought it was garbage.

I really don't understand how an alternative to a hydraulic tensioner could be garbage, but that's your opinion Mike. Did it fail on you? Could you explain more about your experience?

Originally posted by msl-man
I'm not even sure what the benefits of it really are.

It's been over a year since I installed mine, and even longer since I began searching the subject, however I remember reading something about the stresses under load being more consistent with the mechanical tensioner in regards to the stress on the belt itself.

Originally posted by DirtMegirt

Originally posted by eclipse982nrRST i got rid of mine, i thought it was garbage.

I really don't understand how an alternative to a hydraulic tensioner could be garbage, but that's your opinion Mike. Did it fail on you?

Did it mechanically fail on me? No.

Did it fail in my opinion as a good product, Yes.

It is a pain in the dick to install the belt and get it timed correctly when the motor is in the car. I also did not like how after everytime I would rotate the motor twice, the notch never lined up correctly, all but once, and I did not like that all.

It may be a good product, but I certainly did not trust it on my engine. Everyone has an opinion.

The hydraulic tensioner, if replaced when supposed to be and belt serviced correctly, should not have any problems. I have yet to have a problem with the hydraulic tensioner, so until I do, it will remain on the motor.

Originally posted by eclipse982nrRST
I have yet to have a problem with the hydraulic tensioner

My problem with the hydro tensioner is cost. In the last five years, the price has tripled. I don't know about you, but I don't want to have to pay $300 for a hydro tensioner when there is a viable alternative for much less that does the job just as well if not better.

For what it's worth, the mechanical tensioner is used on all the 2002+ factory Neons, iirc.

I will most likely be getting this. I guess I'll just set the timing before I put the motor in lol.

I have the mechanical tensioner as well, and I had no problems at all setting the timing. I just followed azdave's video and i was fine.

You can buy the Beck Arnley unit for about $55, or the Sealed power one for about $125.

Part number for the beck arnley one?