CKRA tensioner question

greengeeker

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hey guys. This one has been bothering me for a while...

How on earth is the OEM CKRA tensioner actually tensioned? Look ma...no tang!



 

740GLE

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see how the mounting bolt isn't centered? once its affixed to the block, looks like you can place a bolt in the hex socket and rotate the tensionioner to release tension, IE the direction of the arrow.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

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The CKRA has two different style tensioners. Which brand is that one? I can't see the printing on the mechanism.
 

pedroYUL

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It says Gates in the middle, next to the arrow
 

greengeeker

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see how the mounting bolt isn't centered? once its affixed to the block, looks like you can place a bolt in the hex socket and rotate the tensionioner to release tension, IE the direction of the arrow.
that would make sense, but what counteracts your rotation without a tang on the backside?...hence my "look ma, no tang" comment.
 

greengeeker

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I think this tensioner definitively settles the debate on the purpose of the tang. After the tension is set, the tang serves no function.

My guess is there is some sort of block inserted between the two halves of tensioner. The tensioner is installed (and torqued down) and the block is pulled out.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

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There's a TSB on how to tension those. I have it, but can't figure out how to upload a .pdf. I can email it to you if you want to PM me your address.
 

greengeeker

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Thanks Peter! So it rotates counterclockwise (I didn't look close enough to see the arrow) into the belt tension which spins the back half of the tensioner. I'll have to play around with this to see it in action.

 

pedroYUL

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I bet that tensioner has an internal locking mechanism that serves as the tab in the other design.
 

greengeeker

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I don't see any provisions for that Pedro, nor do I see mention of removal in the TSB Peter shared. I think it just equalizes the belt tension with the position of the torsional spring position inside the tensioner itself.
 

oilhammer

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outside St Louis, MO
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There are just too many to list....
All the CKRAs I have done had the Gates style from the factory, and I replaced them with the Litens style. No idea why VAG switches around like that, and I can totally see why this could/would cause confusion and possibly a lot of improperly tensioned belts. The Gates one looks similar to some Ford belt driven OHC setups. At least they put arrows on them.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
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Dec 11, 2001
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outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Cannot recall exactly, and they all start to run together if you do not do many of them (non-VAG stuff).
 
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