1.6 HDi Aux belt tensioner

[RichardW]

Anyone know how to relieve the tension? It's this one: tensioner

Although there (might be!) a hex on the roller, the way it is shown on the picture is the way it is installed on the engine, so no access to the hex. I presume that there is a Citroen tool that fits on the lug at about 2 o'clock on that picture, allowing you to pull the tensioner forwards. Thinking perhaps a pair of gas pliers might get it? Otherwise, perhaps a piece of square section tube might fit over the lug?

At least it's not a stretchy one on this car....

[Lighty]

You can usually get on the hex from under the bonnet, it's a 15 or 16mm spanner size.

[Mandrake]

I like the way the eBay listing calls it a fan belt tensioner ! How many decades ago did we last see a car with a fan belt ?

[bobins]

Citroen - as ever - have a special tool for this operation. It consists of a socketed lump of metal that fits over the lug seen in the eBay picture, this 'socket' is attached to a long bar that looks like it's been run over by a tracked excavator. For info, the tool is part number 0194-E3
...your idea of pliers or square section tube may be the best way forward !
If you're really really interested, there's a picture of the lower end of the tool about three-quarters of the way down this page:
http://dc394.4shared.com/doc/c4dI2PJg/preview.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RichardW]

Loads of useful info in that link, if only I could read it

Had a go at it tonight, a 16mm socket slips over the lug, and it can be pulled forward - not sure I could get a pin in it though! It did slip off eventually, sure I can make it work. Might see if I've got a piece of square bar I could fab a tool out of. WTF not just put a hex on the side of the casting?????

Lighty must have magic spanners if he can get on the hex on the back of the roller

[sparksie]

I like the way the eBay listing calls it a fan belt tensioner ! How many decades ago did we last see a car with a fan belt ?

Ha ha! Lots of us still call them "fan belts". Even in boats with fully marinised engines (no fan, no radiator) the belts that drive pumps and alternators are still referred to as fan belts.
Some traditions are hard to change...

[Mandrake]

Maybe, but it's not even the same kind of belt ! Fan belts were usually V belts, modern auxiliary belts are flat grooved serpentine belts...

[RichardW]

Stumped

Got the socket on and found a bit of threaded bar that fitted in the back hole, but the spring is so strong that it just bent the bar, which I then had to saw off the get it out Lug (which is only soft alloy really) is now not quite the shape it was before so the socket slips off. Have tried to fab a tool - managed to cut a rectangular hole in a piece of flat bar, and bend it up, and it now fits over the lug - it's not the right shape though and won't get hold. I think it needs to be cut off, then the bar welded back on at right angles, then I can grind it down till it bears on the edge of the spring cannister which should allow it to be rotated. No idea what the pin would need to be made of to stop it bending - I don't want to fit an allen key and bend that though, as it would be a mite more difficult to saw off

What a farce!!!

[Mandrake]

Oh dear...

Trying to think of anything else I can bring today that might help ??

[citronut]

can you not get a square drive ( maybe 3/8th ) into one of those square recessed holes??????

[Peter.N.]

I like the way the eBay listing calls it a fan belt tensioner ! How many decades ago did we last see a car with a fan belt ?

Ha ha! Lots of us still call them "fan belts". Even in boats with fully marinised engines (no fan, no radiator) the belts that drive pumps and alternators are still referred to as fan belts.
Some traditions are hard to change...

Don't hear so much about starting handles now - or dynamo's

Peter

[Mandrake]

can you not get a square drive ( maybe 3/8th ) into one of those square recessed holes??????

No square holes in this tensioner Malcolm!

We managed to find a way to do it - job done, the timing belt area is now dead silent and the engine pulls much better below 2000 rpm to boot! There must have been nearly half a tooth worth of stretch in the timing belt that would have retarded the camshafts a number of degrees....

[citronut]

Simon
in Richards picy it shows two square blind holes

[Mandrake]

Yep, but they weren't there in the flesh. Must be a slightly different variant of the part.

[citronut]

ok no worries Simon