Aux Belt tensioner tool

[not normal dan]

As above really for the 172/182 with aircon, read that the renault ones are abit w**k. Any ideas?

 

[Fred@BTM]

i use the snap on version of this
http://www.toolking.com/lisle-59000-ratcheting-serpentine-belt-tool/

 

[not normal dan]

cheers fred nice one

 

[jack_davey]

i use the snap on version of this
http://www.toolking.com/lisle-59000-ratcheting-serpentine-belt-tool/

I've got the snap on version of that too and I've never used it for 1*2s as I found the one time I did, the 3/8 square attachment that came with it wasn't long enough.

What do you use?

I've been getting by with a regular breaker bar with a 3/8 extension

 

[Chip-mk1]

I quite like the really pikey version of using a jubilee clip around the tensioner, means your hands are then free to route the belt as you dont need to hold it.
Sound like an horrific bodge, but actually works really well.

Short 3/8 extension works well too.

 

[Dan519]

usually when anyone sees it the reaction is "what's that pikey looking tool......oh you've got the belt on already.....f**k that's quite good really isn't it"

 

[shiftspark]

What's the life of the tensioner by the way ? Any way to test it ?

 

[Chip-mk1]

What's the life of the tensioner by the way ? Any way to test it ?

You can take it off and check its moving freely still to work at the moment (they sometimes seize) but no way of knowing how much longer it will last.
Once its off, for the cost of it you may as well just fit a new one IMHO

 

[lemonnobby]

I got the snap on one. very good i trimmed the end off the handle to make it shorter.

 

[shiftspark]

You can take it off and check its moving freely still to work at the moment (they sometimes seize) but no way of knowing how much longer it will last.
Once its off, for the cost of it you may as well just fit a new one IMHO

Ok cheers

 

[RSTuning]

I got the snap on one. very good i trimmed the end off the handle to make it shorter.

It's crap! The ends fall off if you move it slightly wrong

 

[jack_davey]

I quite like the really pikey version of using a jubilee clip around the tensioner, means your hands are then free to route the belt as you dont need to hold it.
Sound like an horrific bodge, but actually works really well.

Short 3/8 extension works well too.

Yep I like it too, have done alot of belts on these cars this way, however last weekend the jubilee clip popped off and hit me in the head! lol!
Hence me looking around for alternatives!

 

[Scrooge]

Yep I like it too, have done alot of belts on these cars this way, however last weekend the jubilee clip popped off and hit me in the head! lol!
Hence me looking around for alternatives!

The exact same thing happened to, partly because it was a proper nasty jubilee clip. I've made a tool just like Dan's now.

 

[Dan519]

The exact same thing happened to, partly because it was a proper nasty jubilee clip. I've made a tool just like Dan's now.

and i bet it's brilliant. I'd make a batch of them if a few people wanted one. Wouldn't be too hard to knock up

 

[Scrooge]

It is Dan before I made it and just after the jubilee clip incident I was struggling with a small extension on a shitty breaker bar that slipped on occasion and nearly fucked me up lol

 

[jack_davey]

I reckon you'd sell a few danny, what sort of cost would we be looking at?

I assume you just take a piece of 3mm steel, bend it and then mig weld an old 3/8 extension onto it?

I would make one myself but it sounds to me like you have the formula pretty well sorted with the bend in the right place and the extension at the right length?

 

[Chip-mk1]

Jack, that really is all there is to it, Mike from MWM has made a similar thing that I have seen him using, just make sure you check that the bit of steel sits well first before you start welding, ie to make sure you have bent it in the right place for clearance, then mig a 3/8 extension on, not rocket science at all.

 

[jack_davey]

Cool thanks Chip. For the sake of saving faffing around making my own, I'd be interested to see what price Danny could knock some out at.
I've got a couple spare extensions and I've got a

It's a bit embarrassing really, I've been doing belts on these cars a few years now and have been making do with jubilee clips and 3/8 breaker bars

 

[Dan519]

wouldn't be a lot. £10-15 i guess, i'll check out ebay and see if i can get a load of extensions to cut up for cheap. I have meters of the steel strip already

 

[jack_davey]

wouldn't be a lot. £10-15 i guess, i'll check out ebay and see if i can get a load of extensions to cut up for cheap. I have meters of the steel strip already

Mate for that price I'd just pay you to make me one

 

[ben_r1]

Does anyone have the part number for Renaults specific tool?

 

[hipwell]

Mot. 1368 i think

 

[ben_r1]

Can anyone confirm? Thanks.

 

[hipwell]

That's what it says on my Renault service manual. Ring the stealers and ask, but you would be much better off with one of the tools mentioned in this thread.

I used a strong jubilee clip with no problems and it cost me about 2 quid..

 

[ben_r1]

Renault refused to sell me the tool as they don't supply job specific tools to private customers...

 

[Mr R.]

Renault refused to sell me the tool as they don't supply job specific tools to private customers...

How comes we can buy the cambelt tool's?

Have you tried Adam?

 

[ben_r1]

How comes we can buy the cambelt tool's?

Have you tried Adam?

Apparently you can't anymore, he said renault won't offer any specialist tools to private customers as of a few months back. I just got a cheap sealey alternative for a tenner off the bay, if that fails then I'll crack the jubilee out!

 

[loggyboy]

2nd, 3rd or 4th the jubilee clip method, has worked well for me on 3 occasions. My initial attempt with a fabricated tool to match the renault item ended up snapping the alloy around the tensioner housing.

I have a funny feeling I used 2nd jubilee clip to stop it from popping off. Dont quote me on that, it might have been one of my other bodges.