R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006) Cooper (R50) and Cooper S (R53) hatchback discussion.

R50/53 A big bang, sera belt tensioner failed

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Old Aug 17, 2020 | 02:15 PM
  #1  
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oddcarnut
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A big bang, sera belt tensioner failed

While on track at Charlotte Sunday we had a big bang moment. Shredded remains of belt and this part of tensioner broken the lower half of this bit nowhere to be found.
It had the ALTA adjustable tension rod on it to bolt and a broken piece of the casting from the missing section are still there. Any ideas on probable cause?


 
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Old Aug 17, 2020 | 02:40 PM
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Could be anything, even a bad casting. I've read that people replace the entire tensioner. Apparently it's prone to splitting (not sure why). Could have been a small fissure that flew under the radar too long.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2020 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Mini Devil
Could be anything, even a bad casting. I've read that people replace the entire tensioner. Apparently it's prone to splitting (not sure why). Could have been a small fissure that flew under the radar too long.
thanks for the quick reply. Is there an alternate design that is more robust, especially for track use?
 
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Old Aug 17, 2020 | 02:50 PM
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Originally Posted by oddcarnut
thanks for the quick reply. Is there an alternate design that is more robust, especially for track use?
This is the only one I've found. It's pricey. Also no idea if it works on a stock setup. Built for a TVS swap.

Maybe someone else can chime in with more info/experience

http://store-revolutionmini-com.3dca...ner_p_140.html
​​​​​​​
 
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Old Aug 17, 2020 | 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Mini Devil
This is the only one I've found. It's pricey. Also no idea if it works on a stock setup. Built for a TVS swap.

Maybe someone else can chime in with more info/experience

http://store-revolutionmini-com.3dca...ner_p_140.html
Dude no. Just bad info. Its for the tvs and the new angle the tvs set the belt path at needed to be fixed. SO much bad advise here lately and its all just noise and I am not sure or I heard it from someone else who's cousin did it.

REPLACE WITH STOCK UNIT NOT ALTA TRASH!
 
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Old Aug 17, 2020 | 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Akumazeto
Dude no. Just bad info. Its for the tvs and the new angle the tvs set the belt path at needed to be fixed. SO much bad advise here lately and its all just noise and I am not sure or I heard it from someone else who's cousin did it.

REPLACE WITH STOCK UNIT NOT ALTA TRASH!
Sir, this was not bad info. I clearly state it's designed for a TVS swap, and may not work with OEM


Sure is a lot of Alta haters tho
 

Last edited by Mini Devil; Aug 17, 2020 at 03:59 PM.
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Old Aug 17, 2020 | 04:16 PM
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Dude Alta is proven garbage so is madness. Alta used to make a quality part 10 ish years ago but I believe they have been sold and now have crap parts. I dont care what people use. But aftermarket is not always better. Yes it was bad info. If you bothered to figure out or know why Jan made the tensioner for the tvs you would know its because the alignment with the tvs was different and allowed belts to slip with the stock tensioner as the path was wrong. SO jan made that one to re align the belt path and remove slipage. So yes it was bad info as you suggested a part without any knowledge of the part or why it was made. If you did have knowledge you would not have shared it. This is why there is so much bad info here lately as people post without knowledge and then others blindly follow off the deep end. You likely just googled and that part came up. Think before giving advice as most people here will take it for gospel and run with it.

Again I have Aspergers so I have social issues but take it to the bank when I give advice it is the best advice I can give based on information I have disseminated myself.

Feel free to make fun of my issue though everyone else fires away because of it!

TO THE OP GRAB A STOCK UNIT. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE FROM MINI BUT GET A STOCK DESIGN! THE ONE WMW SELLS IS THE LEGIT MINI ONE. They grind the number off as its from the same manufacturer but since its not being sold threw Mini they grind it off. Same company makes the motor mounts too and same deal you can get them cheaper with the Mini logo buzzed off. Here is a picture of the manufacturer off the mounts and as I said the tensioner is the same company. So if you require stock motor and trans mounts this company is the OE supplier

OP I have a good shape tensioner you can have for 20 bucks plus shipping. It is like new and I bought it last year before I went tvs. It has maybe 200 miles on it.


 

Last edited by Akumazeto; Aug 17, 2020 at 04:33 PM.
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Old Aug 17, 2020 | 05:15 PM
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From: Southern GA
Originally Posted by Akumazeto
Dude Alta is proven garbage so is madness. Alta used to make a quality part 10 ish years ago but I believe they have been sold and now have crap parts. I dont care what people use. But aftermarket is not always better. Yes it was bad info. If you bothered to figure out or know why Jan made the tensioner for the tvs you would know its because the alignment with the tvs was different and allowed belts to slip with the stock tensioner as the path was wrong. SO jan made that one to re align the belt path and remove slipage. So yes it was bad info as you suggested a part without any knowledge of the part or why it was made. If you did have knowledge you would not have shared it. This is why there is so much bad info here lately as people post without knowledge and then others blindly follow off the deep end. You likely just googled and that part came up. Think before giving advice as most people here will take it for gospel and run with it.

Again I have Aspergers so I have social issues but take it to the bank when I give advice it is the best advice I can give based on information I have disseminated myself.

Feel free to make fun of my issue though everyone else fires away because of it!

TO THE OP GRAB A STOCK UNIT. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE FROM MINI BUT GET A STOCK DESIGN! THE ONE WMW SELLS IS THE LEGIT MINI ONE. They grind the number off as its from the same manufacturer but since its not being sold threw Mini they grind it off. Same company makes the motor mounts too and same deal you can get them cheaper with the Mini logo buzzed off. Here is a picture of the manufacturer off the mounts and as I said the tensioner is the same company. So if you require stock motor and trans mounts this company is the OE supplier

OP I have a good shape tensioner you can have for 20 bucks plus shipping. It is like new and I bought it last year before I went tvs. It has maybe 200 miles on it.

Again, clearly stated it's for a TVS swap. Someone with a high intelligence such as yourself should make quick work deciphering the English language.

If people choose to "take it for gospel and run with it" I claim no responsibility. I have clearly stated there may be comparability issues.

I'm just a **** personally. Why anyone would talk down or belittle anyone with mental illness is beyond me. And I can't do much about them

With that being said I take my leave

P.s GLWS
 
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Old Aug 18, 2020 | 02:29 PM
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I'm not sure how, but I think it's at least possible that the alta fixed tensioner contributed to the failure. Maybe it put more pressure on the tensioner itself? but it seems like it would break the belt before the tensioner. General thought is that the stock damped dynamic tensioner is better than fixed tension. Gates and Litens are basically the same and the OEM supplier. I got one from advanced auto near me for $80. Installation is a bit of a pain, easiest way might be to loosen the engine mounts and lift the motor a bit. I ended up putting it in front end service mode to get the tensioner out and the new one in.
 
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Old Aug 18, 2020 | 07:35 PM
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Racingguy04, I was wondering the same thing about the fixed adjuster potentially contributing to the failure mode. I plan to ditch it and perhaps put a limiter on to catch things should belt fail.
 
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