[h20melon]

Hi,

I've just replaced the drive belt and 2 of the 3 pulleys in my 2011 FD CRDi.  The two pulleys have Torx 40 bolts which came loose quite ok.

I went to undo the tensioner pulley, but the factory used Torx 30 bolts and have done it that tight that I broke my Torx bit.  I ended up taking the tensioner right out to work on it on the bench.  Trying to undo the bolt I have now stripped the torx out of the bolt.

The only way to get the bolt out now is to either drill it out or totally destroy it to remove it. 

Does anyone know what the exact size and thread of that bolt is? I don't want to go any further until I have another bolt in my hand - preferably a hex head.

I've just put the tensioner back in but the pulley definitely needs replacing as it has a wobble to it.

Thanks

[tw2005]

I wonder if it's reverse thread?

[John B]

I wonder if it's reverse thread?

I think you may be right, I seem to remember replacing one on a different make car and they did it to stop the bolt unwinding itself.

[tw2005]

that's a rhetorical question by the way

[John B]

Fair enough.

[tw2005]

looks like M10, left hand thread maybe 20 25mm liong with a 12 mm hex. The head is flanged

Mine is marked 10 9LH, I think you can get a new genuine tensioner delivered on Ebay around $140

[tw2005]

Fair enough.

No, not talking to you the other fella who's likelyy twi9sting the wrong way

[h20melon]

Thanks.

I didn't think of it being left hand thread as the other two were right hand thread, but thinking now and following the belt around the tensionser pulley spins the opposite directions.

Eitherway I need a new bolt.  @tw2005 My bolt is marked 10 9 but no LH on it.  I didn't know what the 10 9 meant.

I am hoping I can replace the pulley rather than buying a new tensioner as I have already spent $40 on the pulley (well, $150 for the 3 pulleys and belt). 

Thanks for your help.  I'll let you know how I go.

[nzenigma]

If you can get near an arc welder, get an old nut and weld it onto the bolt.. The heat will probably free the thread, (it probably had locktite on it) and now you have something to put a spanner on.
A bolt shop may have a replacement,.

[tw2005]

If you can get near an arc welder, get an old nut and weld it onto the bolt.. The heat will probably free the thread, (it probably had locktite on it) and now you have something to put a spanner on.
A bolt shop may have a replacement,.

Yeah, had manual loctitte also known as turning the bolt the wrong way

[nzenigma]

    Mate we have all done it...
Ooops, is it left or right? But then we figured it out. Didn't we?   

[h20melon]

Hi All,

I finally had time to look into the tensioner pulley.  After having a close inspection of the small amount of thread sticking out the back of the tensioner, I noticed that it was right hand thread and ended up using a hammer action screwdriver (a driver that you hit the back with a hammer and it turns) after cutting a slot in the head.. 

The bolt has locktite stuff on it to hold it in hence why it was so hard to remove using the torx bit.  I have now replaced it with a hex headed bolt for easy removal in future.

So for the record - right hand thread and nzenigma was right with locktite.

[Dazzler]

Good on you mate! Nice work! THanks for getting back to us too! 

[tw2005]

Interesting, right hand thread as in it screws in with a clockwise turn? The genuine unit I have has a standard hex headed bolt.

It's left handed thread , so left is screwing in , right to remove .

A standard bolt thread is right handed. Not sure if I have a torx headed item, I may have to check my spare motor but hard to imagine the thread being any different, just a bolt change, curious though

[tw2005]

we're talking about this are'nt we?

[h20melon]

Yes tw2005.  The smaller image is what I have in my car - with the Torx headed bolt.

And yes right handed thread - clockwise to screw in.

Interesting how there is two genuine units with opposite thread.

[tw2005]

Yes tw2005.  The smaller image is what I have in my car - with the Torx headed bolt.

And yes right handed thread - clockwise to screw in.

Interesting how there is two genuine units with opposite thread.

yeah , because it almost implies they made a change and deleted the loctite if they reversed the thread in a production change.

I've 3 cars so I'll have a gander at the others.

[nzenigma]

  he just doesn't want to concede to my Loctite.   


                                                                                 

[tw2005]

he just doesn't want to concede to my Loctite.   


                                                                                 

That's what you use to kept the falsies in Gary

And no, I'm stumped because the Astra I had also had a torx setup and aftermarket had hex head. Both were reverse thread or left handed so I am literally caught with my