Cam lock tool help.

Originally Posted by symonh2000

The 8mm hole is there for the cambelt tension tool to fit into, not a 8mm pin.

The tool is fitted in the hole, and turned until the tension is correct (indicated by the pointer lining up with the hole in the tensioner backing plate) and the nut in the middle of the tensioner is done up.

You can do it without the correct tool, but its not very easy and you are likely to do damage to either the belt or one of the tensioners.

I have been doing it without the tensioner tool, it's a little tricky.

There £14.45 inc delivery, but are they worth it? I seem to set it allright without it!

It's a lot (to a Scotsman) for a simple tool. Will have a go at making my own, and post a picture of the homemade tool or the damaged belt

I'm doing away with cam belt tensioner, but I have dti guage and holder on order instead

Originally Posted by samlcampbell

It's a lot (to a Scotsman) for a simple tool. Will have a go at making my own, and post a picture of the homemade tool or the damaged belt

If you want to save money then you don't need any tools at all...just a small piece of wire. See the post in the following link...

Bent Valves - Alfa Romeo 145 - 146 Forum

Works perfectly

Thats a nice trick with the wire. I use a chisel as leverage while pushing pointer up

Originally Posted by sa155ae

Thats a nice trick with the wire. I use a chisel as leverage while pushing pointer up

I devised the "wire-tie" method because it means that you aren't then fighting against the spring in the tensioner AND the pressure of pushing the tensioner against the belt...you just push the tensioner hard up against the belt, bolt it up, cut the wire tie and the spring then coils back into action putting the correct amount of additional automatic tension onto the belt

I used a long screwdriver, to lever the tensioner and a ratchet spanner in the other end to do the nut up.

Well I spent morning making my tool from an angle grinder spanner. Looks great, but does not work. Used a very long screwdriver instead.
Next problem is the aux belt idler pulley bolt. It seems to have stripped the thread in the block. Put in a longer bolt with loctite and hope for the best. Will keep old belt in case.

Originally Posted by samlcampbell

Next problem is the aux belt idler pulley bolt. It seems to have stripped the thread in the block. Put in a longer bolt with loctite and hope for the best. Will keep old belt in case.

Clearly nowhere near as critical as the cambelts if the aux idler fails but the obvious permanent solution would be to retap and fit a helicoil insert. Problem is that the helicoil kits aren't cheap. Maybe you could make one out of the remainder of your angle grinder spanner

Access is very tight. I have seen some inserts that just hammer in so I might be able to put one in the existing hole and use a smaller bolt with a sleeve at the pulley. Keeping all the tools and old belt in the boot just in case.