Does anyone have a picture of the automatic belt tensioner that shows the min/max marks. I've seen the Haynes manual drawing and mine does not have marks there and I've looked on the alldatadiy site a same thing. I have a 1994 F150 5.0 XLT. I've looked over this piece for 2 days and done numerous searches and I can't find it.

 

Minimum is as far back as you can pull it and still get a belt on. Maximum is right before it doesn't keep the belt tight anymore.

 

I have a 90 f-150 5.0 and don't have any marks on
my tencher. Heres a pic of mine.

 

So the tensioner has (should have) markings telling you the min/max tension recommended? Is that just on the 302? Or also 300?

 

No, they don't.

 

Sean is wright ! I have both the 302 and the 300 they don't have marks on the tencher.

 

I always measured with a ruler...when you press down on the belt, it shouldn't be more than 1". Not sure if same applies to all though.

 

I've never really had much luck with the Haynes manuals and was trying to give it the benefit of the doubt. The caption below the diagram in the Haynes manual states: Automatic tensioner with wear indicator as used on 5.0 and 5.8L engines with MAX and MIN reference marks. Below is a pic from alldata and pretty much the same from Haynes.
I wasn't sure if something was broke off and therefore my reference marks were gone or not. I finally just measured the deflection and it was 1 1/2". According to Haynes for the manual adjustable belts the tolerance is 1/8 to 3/8 over a 12" span so I replaced the belt last night. After replacing it I drove around for awhile then rechecked and it measured the same 1 1/2" so today I replaced the tensioner and yet again still the same 1 1/2" deflection. I'm not a tall person and so leaning over to the belt and pushing down I don't have much leverage so I don't think i'm pressing to hard but maybe I am. Thanks for the input and I'm gonna stop looking for those mysterious reference marks.

 

This is what my Haynes shows:



But no, there are no marks like that.