So, I am installing my 2nd mechanical tensioner to see if my belt movement goes away. This post will only focus on setting the tension for future searchers.

How are those of you with the mech tensioner setting the tension? I line the notch up perfectly every time, torque the nut, recheck to make sure the mark is still where it's supposed to be, and then rotate my motor over. Not once has it lined back up after rotating the motor.... I have set the tension about six times now and not one time has the notch landed where it's supposed to be. The only way I can get the notch lined up is to over tension it a little from the start.... Then when the motor is turned over, the notch is the closest to being where it's supposed to be. Am I missing something very basic here?? I am doing exactly as the instructions state. I fear that over tensioning from the start to get the notch to line up after turning over the motor will be too tight. But I also fear that doing as the instructions state and leaving it will not be enough tension on the belt... Which is it? Over tension it from the start to get the notch to line up after turning the motor over? Or tension it as the instructions state and never have the notch line back up after turning the motor over.... I'm really starting to think this mech tensioner is garbage in the sense of it being a guessing game....

Are you going back to TDC when you check the tension again? It rocks back and forth to adjust tension as you turn it over, but should line back up when you hit TDC again.

Originally posted by 740 turbo brick
Are you going back to TDC when you check the tension again? It rocks back and forth to adjust tension as you turn it over, but should line back up when you hit TDC again.

Yep, I stop on exactly the same spot that I set the tension on. tdc. Should I just set the tension, and leave it? Even though it's showing less tension after a few revolutions? This thing is royally pissing me off...

I set mine so it landed on the right tension after I turned the motor over. The tensionor might need to "settle in" after being set.

Originally posted by SilvrEclips
I set mine so it landed on the right tension after I turned the motor over. The tensionor might need to "settle in" after being set.

See, the only way I can get it to land on correct tension, is to over tension it before turning the motor over. But then I was having some belt noise with the car running which everyone said it was too tight. So WTF? Anyone else want to add some suggestions? I'm about to send this thing back to PD and get a hydraulic unit again. At least with the hydro I know that tension is correct and there's no guesswork involved.....

Thats how I did mine, lined it up and turned it over, checked it at the same spot. If it was back the other way a little, Id retention it slightly past and it would line up perfect each successive time. As long as the spring leg lines up in the slot of the tab in front of it, its at the correct tension.

There is a video , by a memebr somewhere on you tube.It may help. i looked up 420a tensioner. Gl.

Originally posted by streetlightning
There is a video , by a memebr somewhere on you tube.It may help. i looked up 420a tensioner. Gl.

Yes, the video by azdave. I know how to set the tension. The install and setting the tension is very straight forward, it's the whole rotating the motor over and the tension being wrong every time I do it that's got me frustrated...

I shot a video just as a reference for people setting the tension with the motor in the car. The first tensioner I had turned out to be defective. So, on this one, I had to slightly over tension it for it to land on the nominal notch. Here's a video of the notch lining up and me rotating it over once and it lines up again! yay. It's kind of hard to see the first time I hold the mirror up, but the notch is where it's supposed to be. You can see it after I rotate it though, just maximize the video. I just wanted to show how you can use a mirror to get a good look at it.
http://s1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb423/Red90Sev/?action=view¤t=5b8dddef.mp4