Had you ever stuck a 12mm socket in the access holes in the covers and loosend then retightened the tensioner? The spring will pull up any slack in the belt.

 

You have to put a bit of clockwise rotation pressure on the crank while doing this. But it really helps to do it every 10k or so on EA82 belts.

 

I haven't. I never trusted the spring.....I did occasionally check/adjust the tension, but I always put some extra pressure on the tensioner while I did.

 

And there are those out there running interference EJ engines.......they should DEFINATELY run with well sealed covers.

 

definitely. I would not run any EJ (even a non-interference one) without the covers.

no it doesn't. the engine quits, you get out, grab 22mm and 12mm sockets and a spare belt. and it's running again in 10 minutes or so.

 

 

Not with a ej25 your not.

Not with a ej25 your not.

this thread was about EA82's, there's other motors that comments in this thread don't apply too, they weren't intended to.

I would use if you got, I have broke belts before, but I take my Subie swimming in mud....But if a stick gets in there your f#$%ed....

Has anyone cut the center cover in half so it can be removed without doing a front end teardown and used zip ties. I know if its got the silly clutch fan its still a pain but I was looking at my ej22 thinking why not on a ea82? I'll bet it wouldnt be so hard to get a fine cut with a japanese hand saw and use aluminum ducting tape to seal it up (not the regular duct tape).

 

Just a question, I havent had an ea82 for 4yrs now.

i have to say use the covers if you have them because it takes alot more time to replace idlers water pump and all that ************ when they get ************ bult up in them and break. i use me subaru in extreme off road situations including mud snow gravel you name it and the covers have saved me plenty of times and i dont feel it takes that much time even with the covers on. if you spend a little extra time protecting them then you wont have to replace the belt as often.