Timing Belt Tensioner

When renewing the timing belt on 300 tdi is it necessary to replace the timing belt tensioner or can you just replace the belt

just done a 300, get a cam belt kit, comes with a moded crank pulley, as the old style lets the belt run off. regards sean

is this modded crank included in the kit from paddocks?

The best one i found was the one off ebay type defender timing belt kit in and it should come up i have just done mine with this it was good stuff.

sean7r said:

just done a 300, get a cam belt kit, comes with a moded crank pulley, as the old style lets the belt run off. regards sean

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i cant see how the timing belt can "run off" as the pulley holds it in place ive done many and am doing one on monday and ive never seen a timing belt come off a crankshaft .and how is the pulley moded ?

The early 300tdi had an issue with the crank pully that did lead to early failure. The later ones got fitted with a factory fitted upgrade.... a different design.
I only know as my 1994 300tdi had a cam belt fitted 6 months ago... I bought the kit from Paddocks and got someone to fit it for me. It did not have the 'modded crank' but fortunately the guy had a spare one in his box.
Worth looking for the upgrade kit, but you wont know for sure till you have stripped it. Not sure what date the newer pully was fitted from.

defcrazy said:

i cant see how the timing belt can "run off" as the pulley holds it in place ive done many and am doing one on monday and ive never seen a timing belt come off a crankshaft .and how is the pulley moded ?

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The early pulleys had a seperate spacer washer. The modified pulleys have the spacer incorporated into the pulley itself.

yea that makes sense ^ but ive still never seen a belt come off a crank when fitted properly

defcrazy said:

yea that makes sense ^ but ive still never seen a belt come off a crank when fitted properly

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The usual reason is that people didn't realise that the new pulley had the washer incorporated. They'd then fit the old washer aswell as the new pulley and it would then push the belt off the crank.