Steve Addy
Top Post Dawg
I'm in agreement with others about this, just move on and make the necessary repairs so that your car is back up and running again. I doubt that you'll get any satisfaction from the mechanic who did the work improperly, the condition of the tensioner isn't definitive proof that it was tensioned backwards (ccw) although we all know that it's likely to have been the case. Getting someone in court to say that there's no other way to get that result except with improper tensioning...that would be difficult.
I guess if your engine suffered no damage at this point you're luckier than some people out there who also had mechanics who don't know how to tension timing belts.
As for the IP pin not being out when the belt is tensioned, I've never felt like that mattered one bit in the grand scheme of things, it's far enough from the tensioner that TBH it's not a relevant point. In fact I would argue to those who suggest that it is just how they intend to verify timing alignment if the pin is withdrawn? If you only have one immovable point (crankshaft) then everything else get's changed during tensioning. So technically once you go round a few times with a ratchet in theory you shouldn't be able to install the pin with the crank at TDC. But I digress....
The manufacturer of the tensioner is unknown but likely not a well respected brand, especially coming from Hans, so there's no point in dwelling on it. As for whether it would have failed simply because it's not a known maker, that's probably not something we're going to ever know.
If it were mine I would just go through the procedure of installing the timing belt again and check to see if everything looks ok. That you were able to remove the tensioner without taking the belt off bothers me a little since that's not typically something you can do unless there's a lot of belt stretch. If the belt is bad just replace it as well, most belts are around $20 for this engine so no great loss.
The real test will be turning over the engine a few times MANUALLY with a ratchet. If there are no collisions during this phase you likely survived, but you should also inspect the valve lifters when you pull the VC to set the cam plate. Any cracks or damage to the lifters will surely mean there was a collision.
Just be glad you got away without a destroyed engine at this point....
Steve
I guess if your engine suffered no damage at this point you're luckier than some people out there who also had mechanics who don't know how to tension timing belts.
As for the IP pin not being out when the belt is tensioned, I've never felt like that mattered one bit in the grand scheme of things, it's far enough from the tensioner that TBH it's not a relevant point. In fact I would argue to those who suggest that it is just how they intend to verify timing alignment if the pin is withdrawn? If you only have one immovable point (crankshaft) then everything else get's changed during tensioning. So technically once you go round a few times with a ratchet in theory you shouldn't be able to install the pin with the crank at TDC. But I digress....
The manufacturer of the tensioner is unknown but likely not a well respected brand, especially coming from Hans, so there's no point in dwelling on it. As for whether it would have failed simply because it's not a known maker, that's probably not something we're going to ever know.
If it were mine I would just go through the procedure of installing the timing belt again and check to see if everything looks ok. That you were able to remove the tensioner without taking the belt off bothers me a little since that's not typically something you can do unless there's a lot of belt stretch. If the belt is bad just replace it as well, most belts are around $20 for this engine so no great loss.
The real test will be turning over the engine a few times MANUALLY with a ratchet. If there are no collisions during this phase you likely survived, but you should also inspect the valve lifters when you pull the VC to set the cam plate. Any cracks or damage to the lifters will surely mean there was a collision.
Just be glad you got away without a destroyed engine at this point....
Steve