I have been a member for months and this is my first post.First of all, i want to thank all of the members for all of the excellent information on the Mini Cooper S.When i have a question,this is where i go for the answer.I am not a big talker thats why i don't post more often.Anyway,I live in Lakeland Florida and own a 2002 Mini Cooper S.I have done all of the performance mods myself ( 15% reduction pulley,K&N Typhoon intake,Quicksilver header and exhaust,Powerchip,Nology wires,Denso IK22's, and various interior mods)I really was kinda worried about going to a 19% reduction pulley until i followed this forum for awhile.I want to go to 19% but i have a problem,the belt tensioner tool.I had one when i installed my 15% reduction pulley but i sold it thinking i would never use it again.I have spent a small fortune in mods as i am sure you all all aware.I know this might sound cheap but i think $69.95 that Mini Mania wants for this is highway robbery.Does anyone know of a place that i can find one cheap?I have a Mini-Mania short shifter kit i would be happy to trade for.

 

I have done both my 15% and 19% pullies without the use of a tensioner tool. I use a 3 foot section of [ shaped channel iron. The [ goes over the hex head of the bolt.....piece of cake...never failed.

 

Thanks for the input.I look at the engine without it jacked up and think,FOR THE lOVE OF GOD MY HANDS ARE HUGE, HOW AM I GOING TO DO THIS?

 

It is a royal pain in the buzunga, but it can be done.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...c=26564&23

 

Thanks for the link

 

If you decide to get another tool, i would strongly suggest hanging on to it, even if you never plan to change the pulley again, belts do pop, and alot of other thing you can do to the car require the belt to be removed, its far to handy to get rid of.......

 

You might want to talk to Randy Webb before you combine a 19% pulley with the Powerchip. You are going to be running SUPER lean.

 

Caddman,
Believe me when i say, i already feel like a retard.
Thanks

 

Jcampos,
How might i contact him?I got the impression the remap would compensate for dangerously lean conditions.I am definately not an expert and will check into this.I don't think i will contact Powerchip though,I thought you kept the wiring harness they sent and never returned mine.I do alot of travelling for my job and at the time i couldnt return mine.I have emailed them several times to explain and they dont return any emails so i am going to keep the harness and program.It wont do much good but i can always flash the ECU

 

>>I have done both my 15% and 19% pullies without the use of a tensioner tool. I use a 3 foot section of [ shaped channel iron. The [ goes over the hex head of the bolt.....piece of cake...never failed.
>>

Hey Bisch, I'm getting ready to change my 15% Alta pulley for a 19% Alta. Can you show a picture of where your angle iron goes. I'm kinda of dumb on this stuff but wanted to give it a try.

Dennis

 

If you feel like a drive over to Melbourne, I have the tool hanging in the garage. Had to weld it back together after it broke on first use... not impressed with the BMW issue weld quality. Now if has a nice crossbrace and Plasticote Hammerite finish. You're welcome to use it, and I'll loan the garage space for the time it takes for that easy swap.

 

..actually their price is in the ballpark of ours, which actually within a few bucks of the MINI retail price. Both are OEM MINI parts.

They are over priced, but that's what they cost. There are a few custom bends and a custom CNC'd part that are all welded together...(very crappily)

BTW, we offer a tool rental package..

http://outmotoring.com/supercharger_...it_rental.html

But, yes you can get around using it, so if you can figure it out i would, as the tool is a total piece of crap, but it's the only one on the market unless we do our own.
We have 6 in the shop that all BROKEN while in use from our customers all across the country. Each one requiring a replacement with shipping there and back...total hassle. It's a simple enough tool though and some of the rigs mentioned here are pretty good solutions...

 

Thanks 2Cool,
I broke down and bought one.If you are ever in Lakeland call me i owe you a couple of beers.863-648-4480.

 

>>>>I have done both my 15% and 19% pullies without the use of a tensioner tool. I use a 3 foot section of [ shaped channel iron. The [ goes over the hex head of the bolt.....piece of cake...never failed.
>>>>
>>
>>Hey Bisch, I'm getting ready to change my 15% Alta pulley for a 19% Alta. Can you show a picture of where your angle iron goes. I'm kinda of dumb on this stuff but wanted to give it a try.
>>
>>Dennis

I'll shoot a pic Sunday for you.

Hey, maybe I should sell my angle iron things. I have a bunch of them...I'll tell you what, send me a SASE.... sorry.

 

>>>>>>I have done both my 15% and 19% pullies without the use of a tensioner tool. I use a 3 foot section of [ shaped channel iron. The [ goes over the hex head of the bolt.....piece of cake...never failed.
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Hey Bisch, I'm getting ready to change my 15% Alta pulley for a 19% Alta. Can you show a picture of where your angle iron goes. I'm kinda of dumb on this stuff but wanted to give it a try.
>>>>
>>>>Dennis
>>
>>I'll shoot a pic Sunday for you.
>>
>>Hey, maybe I should sell my angle iron things.

 

>>Thanks 2Cool,
>> I broke down and bought one.If you are ever in Lakeland call me i owe you a couple of beers.863-648-4480.

juzmackjr, would you be so kind as measure your tensioner tool and post here.
The distance between two pins that fit into the side of tensioner, diameter of pin's the rest I can figure out from pic's. Thanks,............. norm :smile:

 

As soon as i recieve the tool in the mail, i'll post the complete dimensions.

 

Here are pics of my improvised device...



The last pic kinda shows the GatorGrip belt...


_________________
MCS, with some stuff. Stuff. Just stuff, alright!

 

Why Bisch that's a piece of kendorf conduit hanger found on most comercial construction site's. But if it work's who cares. :smile:

 

>>Why Bisch that's a piece of kendorf conduit hanger found on most comercial construction site's. But if it work's who cares. :smile:

I didn't think many people would understand what I was refering to, so I called it "angle iron".... . I have several hundred feet of it for track lighting in my showroom...

 

I got the mini part number tensioner from out motoring a while back. It has just sat on the sideline till I needed it. Well last weekend I needed it. Ryan needed to change his belt to a smaller one. "Your in luck I have all the parts" I said. So he comes over and we jack up the car a bit so I can get under it and he is on the topside holding the tensioner up with the tool. We get the belt off just fine. Fish the new belt into place and put the tool back on to loop the new belt around the crank. As I almost have it in the place, the tool snaps in half right where it is welded together! A half a second sooner and my fingers would have been stuck between the belt and the pulley! After some yelling about how mini cannot weld, since it was very clear to me that the weld didn’t penetrate like it should have. I weld it back together and finish the job. And here I thought I was all slick because I bought the tool for the job, when I would have been better off making my own. So be ware that this part may break on you at any time.

 

" As I almost have it in the place, the tool snaps in half right where it is welded together! A half a second sooner and my fingers would have been stuck between the belt and the pulley! " I have heard this story before from different folk's.
And here I thought I was all slick because I bought the tool for the job, when I would have been better off making my own.
I will follow your suggestion and make my own if you would please measure and post the distance between two pins that fit into the side of tensioner, diameter of pin's the rest I can figure out from pic's. Thanks,............. norm

 

>>" As I almost have it in the place, the tool snaps in half right where it is welded together! A half a second sooner and my fingers would have been stuck between the belt and the pulley! " I have heard this story before from different folk's.
>> And here I thought I was all slick because I bought the tool for the job, when I would have been better off making my own.
>>I will follow your suggestion and make my own if you would please measure and post the distance between two pins that fit into the side of tensioner, diameter of pin's the rest I can figure out from pic's. Thanks,............. norm
>>
>>

Anyone have a tensioner tool to measure?

 

Bump :smile:

 

I think no one is responding because the word on the street is that measuring the belt tensioner tool voids the warranty.