Timing belt tensioner questions

[rollingon]

Following my recent timing belt query, I have an Aisin timing belt tensioner on my 1998 Volve V70 XC AWD turbo. This is the one that comes from FCP under the following part number; Aisin (OEM) 9146693. I'm replacing my timing belt after only 40,000 miles (when the tensioner and rollers were also replaced) because the water pump, which was replaced at the same time, has failed. I have been intending to keep the tensioner, which I understand can be good for 140,000 miles. It seems to work properly, and I was able to remove it from the car easily by loosening both bolts, and pushing it to the left. It looks fine and has the white collar in place around the piston. I have pushed on the piston to see if/how easily it will compress, and it will not push in under considerable pressure, though I stopped short of trying too hard to make it compress. I also don't have the steel retaining pin it would have had with it when it was initially put in the car.

From what I have described, does my tensioner sound like it is in good working order? I am not intending to push my luck with it, but as it is relatively easy to replace, unlike the water or oil pump, I feel it should have a lot of miles left in it, and I don't feel the need to spend money on an unnecessary replacement just because the part is out of the car now. I would replace it if it had been in the car for two timing belts, or even just one, but it has barely done 40,000 miles. Does that sound reasonable?

How difficult should it be to compress the piston on this tensioner if one wanted to locate a retaining pin through the hole in the piston?

Thank-you.

[louty]

if it was a quality one, it should be good for the next timing belt interval from what I have read and been told. However somepeople replace em everytime they do a belt. So its your call.
Do a search there is good DIY articles on how to do a timing belt and several go into how to compress and lock it in place.

[jblackburn]

Yes...those things last forever. Sounds good.

[obayha]

Sounds like it should work fine.
Compress it with a "C" clamp slowly. A quarter turn and let it sit, then again, and again and till it compresses enough to put a small nail in the hole to hold it in place. Don't forget to release nail after install.
Shane

[Ben850]

My previous post was deleted, I could not post the photos so it's no problem.
I was only going to show the tensioner I replaced. I found it was leaking fluid after I compressed it.

Fluid leaking after cleaning and compressing twice to be sure.

I'm fairly sure it may have been the original tensioner with about 167k miles. It was the source of an abstract knocking that was the tensioner pulley bouncing on it. The plastic slip ring likely saved the engine.

6" C-clamp works great. Slowly.