I had a rattle I thought was the tensioner, 115K on the motor, I had no problems taking it out or putting it back in. I think that the tensioner is not a common failure for the M44 motor. I turned out the nasty rattle was the remains of a spun bearing. Motor sounded like I had dropped silverware down into my garbage disposal. Turned out it was easier to change the engine than fix the spun bearing. Found an M44 about an hour and a half from me, 130K on it for $300 bucks. Couldn't go wrong. Turns out the motor I picked up and installed is much stronger than the engine I blew up on the track and replaced. Made me think there were problems with the motor before I took it to a drivers school. Have you sprayed the tensioner bolt down with penetrating oil? Used heat on it as well (from a torch, not just the motor being warm)? These may help, it should not be that difficult to get off. |