Reliability: timing belt tensioners?

[Matthias Kuster <choreboy@domain.elided>]

Ciao tutti

My timing belt has slipped, causing my rear bank cam to be off about 5
degrees. This just after major repair work, amongst it a new tensioner. It
slipped once before with an old tensioner, and now did the same with a brand
new one after 250miles. Was I inhaling cough syrup during the installation
and tensioning procedure- Nope. I tightened it with a torque wrench, being
cautious not to exceed 18 footpounds. All according to factory bulletin and
manual. I don't think I overstrained the spring. I don't think I could've
tightened it any further. This entire design with the mechanical tensioner,
timing belt, limited grip area on rear bank cam after timing belt has to
EXTERNALLY drive the oil pump seems asking-for-trouble-engineering. Is there
any secret in getting the timing belt on tight?? Or could my brand new
tensioner be faulty? Do I need a lobotomy? Are there side effects?
My new timing belt is the right size, I don't know what I could be screwing
up.
Looks like the whole valvetrain is going back to the machine shop. I am not
sure the valves are bent, I get 185-200psi compression on all cyls. But it
was making an awful noise, I tell ya.
I'd feel greatly obliged for any input.


-- 
Matthias Kuster L.A., CA
1991 164L "Alfonso"

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