New 3D-Printed 944 Timing Belt Tensioner Tool

[nagykurva]

Tom are you still printing ?
This seems like the perfect tool I need.
If not no worries, but after reading 23 pages of discussion for someone using this once a year what material would you recommend?
I was looking at craftcloud that one of the members used and there are a crazy amount of options and I have no understanding of 3D printing…
I did the hand method and things aren’t sounding too hot!

[andrewsutton14]

I am interested in getting the file to have this tool printed. How accurate is it for adjusting the belt tension?

[Tom]

Tom are you still printing ?
This seems like the perfect tool I need.
If not no worries, but after reading 23 pages of discussion for someone using this once a year what material would you recommend?
I was looking at craftcloud that one of the members used and there are a crazy amount of options and I have no understanding of 3D printing…
I did the hand method and things aren’t sounding too hot!

I'm about to print/assemble a small run of these for a modest fee. If you want in on that, send me an email at admin@carpokes.com or PM me here. Thanks.

[Tom]

I am interested in getting the file to have this tool printed. How accurate is it for adjusting the belt tension?

I believe it to be accurate, based on back-to-back testing and calibrating against the factory tool. It's obviously not a precision instrument like the factory tool, but I'd argue the factory tool and process gives a false sense of precision since so many uncontrolled variables go into the final reading (tool placement, exact back-up amount, temps, etc.).

[idealcheese]

Hi there! Thanks so much for making this 3D file available for free. I watched your video on Youtube and if I understood correctly, I would need to guesstimate the tension and use the tool to check it until the click happens at the right spot? Sounds pretty easy! And a great way to avoid spending a ton of money on the Porsche tension tool.

I would like to add another vote for a 3D printable balance shaft belt tensioner. At the moment my 944 has been in and out of a local mechanic who I suspect is less versed in the 944 as he claimed to be—shortly after a water pump and belt replacement a major coolant leak happened and the balance belt got shredded to the point that the inner nubs basically wore off. I was having major vibrations through the shifter, I assume because the balance belt was wacko. Took it back to the mechanic who said the water pump failed, leaked coolant on the belts, and caused the wear on the balance belt. He replaced everything for me, but the vibrations were still really unpleasant. I checked the lower BS sprocket and found he installed it upside down, which I hope is the reason for the vibrations. The car is currently back at the shop, and I gave the mechanic the relevant pages about the BS belt from the shop manual just to make sure.

Long story short: when I get the car back, I would like to be able to verify the tension on the BS belt myself, so such a tool would come in very handy.

[Tom]

Hi there! Thanks so much for making this 3D file available for free. I watched your video on Youtube and if I understood correctly, I would need to guesstimate the tension and use the tool to check it until the click happens at the right spot? Sounds pretty easy! And a great way to avoid spending a ton of money on the Porsche tension tool.

I would like to add another vote for a 3D printable balance shaft belt tensioner. At the moment my 944 has been in and out of a local mechanic who I suspect is less versed in the 944 as he claimed to be—shortly after a water pump and belt replacement a major coolant leak happened and the balance belt got shredded to the point that the inner nubs basically wore off. I was having major vibrations through the shifter, I assume because the balance belt was wacko. Took it back to the mechanic who said the water pump failed, leaked coolant on the belts, and caused the wear on the balance belt. He replaced everything for me, but the vibrations were still really unpleasant. I checked the lower BS sprocket and found he installed it upside down, which I hope is the reason for the vibrations. The car is currently back at the shop, and I gave the mechanic the relevant pages about the BS belt from the shop manual just to make sure.

Long story short: when I get the car back, I would like to be able to verify the tension on the BS belt myself, so such a tool would come in very handy.

Yes, that's correct about guesstimating and then checking. The factory tool works the same way. Agreed on the b/s tool -- I need to get on that.

[Mac]

Thanks for creating this -

[hlinhd]

Making a post to get access to the file to try!

[Osocyc]

Thanks!

[Ton_B]

Hello,
I will test it on my 944, it seems to be a proper tool