I have read that a belt tensioner stop can prevent major damage if a belt breaks. It's cheap, looks easy to install, and can prevent $expensive$ damage should the belt break. Is it worthwhile? As always TIA for any help.

 

Its a gamble ..
Spending $50 or so to maybe save $600+ (cost of new crank damper, and tensioner) if you snap or throw a belt...

 

Dont' bother, never seen one actually work to save it. And the complete shock replacement doesn't allow proper belt tension through the RPM range.

 

As long as you don't have a worn out high mileage belt tensioner you'll be fine. If you do just buy a new tensioner.

 

WOW should I be asking for a refund from the one I bought last year from WayMotorWorks?

 

maybe way thinks he's asking about the adjustable tensioner.

 

I don’t really expect a response from Way.

 

I realize that.

 

There's pretty much a certain level of underhandedness with some MINI parts vendors. This is not something I would expect from Way, but I'm not surprised.

I think I can safely add Way to the vendor **** list just below Alta

 

Sorry would have responded earlier if I had seen this thread, but didn't see it until today when it was linked from another thread I came across.

Underhandedness?
Our tensioner stop does what it's suppose to. It's insurance for a belt or tensioner breaking. If the tensioner suddenly extends out the bar will prevent it from hitting the crank pulley. We built this as an alternative to others stops as the cables all fell apart, the bar that went around the shock would fall off, and the shock replacement doesn't keep proper tension on the belt or over tensions.
Anyone that has talked to me knows that I always give my honest opinion of a part even if it cost me a sale. We have several parts and even brands we sell on the website we don't recommend, but we have to offer them as we couldn't stay in business with only listing items we 100% recommend. But we do have a Gold seal we put on parts that we do 100% recommend to help customers know we recommend that part the higher than the rest.

 

Don't talk trash about Way. He is a good honest vendor and has contributed much to the community. MINI owners are lucky to have him.

 

I don't think Way was being underhanded in any manner. He gave advice on a part based upon his experience. My experience is a little different: the tensioner stop is an answer to a problem that rarely happens, and can be more of a problem than a help. I don't recommend them or install them--I keep fresh belts on our customer cars. That doesn't make Way or me right or wrong: we're just expressing our approach to these cars.

I think a reader can assume that any vendor has self interest--read: trying to make a living--when they promote their parts on forums. That doesn't make us underhanded. Those of us who actually work on, fix and tune these cars on a daily basis (Way, Detroit Tuned, Helix, to name a few) bring value to the community with our experience. Based upon that experience, we make or sell parts that we think solve problems.

 

Trash talking about any vendor with nothing more than an anecdotal misunderstanding has done more damage to vendors on this and other forums than anything. One of them just packed up and left a couple years ago because of ignorant carping. Hate to see him gone but don't blame him. My point? Don't badmouth Way or any vendor based on a lack of all the facts.
In other words: It's easy to draw a straight line from an unwarranted assumption to a foregone conclusion.

 

1+

 

I have a OEM tensioner with less than 3k miles on it. Hit me up if you’re interested, I’ll give you a good price. I bought it from Way, but won’t be needing it anymore because I’m upgrading m45 to tvs900 and his billet tensioner.

https://www.waymotorworks.com/oem-belt-tensioner.html