Timing Belt Tensioner for 360

That wouldn't work. You need to be able to torque the nut and that tool has no provision for a socket to fit. It would also difficult to use due to its shape. You need the proper tool from hill or Ricambi:
95972938-A - Tensioner Adjuster by: Hill Engineering - Hill

 

The pins that go in the Ferrari tensioner bearing are thicker than that one...

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Steve- Here is a reasonably priced frequency tensiometer, too.

MotoReva - Ducati Tools and Supplies

 

We've got them in stock and ready for immediate shipment:

95972938 TIMING BELT TENSIONER WRENCH : Ricambi America

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Daniel- Much more elegant tool.

You should carry that Motoreva tensiometer. You could probably get a good deal on them and the market is improving as more people do their own work on the 360s and Maranellos.

 

I recently did the belts on my Ducati Monster using the belt frequency method but I simply downloaded a piece of freeware to read frequency, hooked up a microphone to my laptop, and accurately set the belt tension at zero additional cost (I already had the microphone). It's not quite as nifty as a dedicated tool, but the price is right.

 

Why not? Not to be argumentative and I confess to never having done a belt change on my 360; however, I have changed quite a few belts with essentially the same design that Ferrari uses. The tool looks nearly identical to the tool pictured in the following photo. The scallop on the end is designed specifically to allow clearance around the bolt-head for a socket which would be fitted to your torque wrench. Perhaps a thin wall socket might be required, it's hard to tell for sure. You can see the same scallop in the other photo. As long as the pins are spaced properly, are large enough not to break, and are small enough to fit the holes in the tensioner, you should be good to go. The pins don't take the full torque of the locking bolt; only just enough to set the proper belt tension.

True, sometimes the exact tool is indispensable, but often times a less expensive tool will work as evidenced by the Vice Grip pliers in the other photo.

Am I missing something here?

 

Don't think so. It is always preferable to have "the right tool for the job" and if one does this job regularly there's no doubt that the Hill tool is the way to go.

That said, one could easily fabricate the necessary tool with a bit of plate, a drill, a couple of bolts etc.

 

IMHO as long as the tool can tension the belt.. design is irrelevant. A 10 gauge wire bent in a "V" shape with two bends in the end will work.

I was even thinking of grinding the end of the VW tool if needed to enhance the clearance for the socket... or use a wrench. But Daniels tool does look the most comprehensive..

So you can pluck the timing belt and listen to the tone? I've never done a belt harmonically. Last belt I did I used the twist it 90 degrees and its tight enough.

 

Yeah, both my Ducati and my 360 Modena specify a resonant belt frequency to set the correct tension. You hit it or pluck it much like a guitar string; the higher the frequency, the tighter the belt.

When it comes to accuracy, that technique makes sense to me when compared with the "rotate 90 degrees" method. It's especially important with the Ducati since there is really no hydraulic or spring loaded tensioner as is found on many cars. It's just an adjustable idler pulley which, once set, fixes the tension. There is no compensation, so it is smart to set it correctly.

Considering the price of the result of a belt "issue" with a typical Ferrari engine, I think setting the tension the Ferrari way is a good idea. Doing it by feel????.......... "chi sa", as we say here in Italy.

 

I made one from a piece of steel and a couple of old drill-bits.
It has a small 'notch' so I could fit a socket on the bolt at the same time.
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Give yourself a pat on the back mate, that's a lovely bit of work right there!

 

Thanks guys.
I really enjoy making my own specialty tools.
I have a few small machines that have really been handy. It's a feeling of freedom to need a tool/part and to just be able to make it.

 

Nicely done on the tool! Makes me wonder if something could be modded form harbor freight..

TWANG TWANG TWING TWING.. adjusting a belt harmonically.. expensive musical instrument...

 

Mozella- Very ingenious with the mircrophone. The Motoreva I posted is much simplified compared to many of the frequency tensiometers like the Seem that Ferrari sells and the Gates, but it still costs $250.

For amateurs, your idea would be perfect. You should do a thread on how to use the mike and software.

 

I was able to find a belt frequency meter on ebay last year for $38.00!

The seller didn't know what it was or what it would be used for so they listed it with an odd description.

It did take some searching with vague descriptions though.

 

Kevin- What brand did you find? Great deal.

 

Because you would have to have a very thinly walled socket to fit, and using a fiddly little arm in a confined space is likely to cause a real headache setting the tension correctly. In the photograph of the tool in situ i also can't see a pin fitted in the hydraulic tensioner....

 

Come on.......... this isn't rocket science. We're just talking about adjusting cam drive belt tension on a design nearly identical to that found on many other cars, even if this one is on the front of a very expensive motor.

If I couldn't get a socket on the bolt because the tool was designed for a tensioner with a smaller bolt head, I'd simply get out a die grinder (or even a half round file) and relieve the tool a little bit. Again, I have yet to do my 360 belts, but I've done belt replacement on a number of other cars using tools very much like this one.

Sometimes special tools are absolutely necessary, but other times they're just nice to have and if someone is likely to use it once or twice in a lifetime, improvising or substituting or fabricating is just fine, at least as far as I'm concerned. The key is knowing what you're doing and being sure to do the job correctly no matter what tool you use.

 

Well good for you. Carry on grinding stuff out to fix your car. I'll carry on doing it the way I have done for the last twenty years working on Ferrari. Jesus.....