ALFAGTV6.COM

Can anyone help me out with bearing numbers (SKF etc) for the tensioner bearing and the 2 idler bearings on a 164 24v timing belt.
I just got a price of $412 for the 3 from an Alfa spares place and had the reaction "F'ken WHAT !!"
Maybe someone has found a bearing off a ford or something that fits instead (hopeful here)

EB Spares in England have the idlers for £29 or roughly US$58.
Tensioner is £104 ($204) and the tensioner bearing is £55 ($108). The latter is a pile of cash for a bearing I agree!

So. in Aussie dollars, for the pair of idlers and the tensioner bearing, you would be looking at £113 which is < AU$280.

By the way, are you thinking NOT to replace the tensioner itself? The one on my engine looks ancient. Do you know when these should be replaced?

I saw some discussion on AlfaBB on bearing numbers. Let me know if you figure out if they can be sourced independant of an Alfa specialist please.

Cheers,

Thanks Michael.
I am currently trying to get them direct through SKF - I have the skf numbers for both.
I hadn't considered replacing the tensioner, I was going to set it up using Barry's method - nowhere to go.

Is Barry's method documented here somewhere?
Also, what are the SKF numbers? I can try here locally too

VW Golf wheel bearing,double thrust,so it very good-part number-633296A.
Works as a main 24v bearing AND tensioner bearing.You need to machine up the plug that goes into the center of course.
On the tensioner use 2 std. tensioner bearing plugs,have them ground untill they both fit from opposite sides ,allign and use.

Michael -
Tensioner bearing - 633254
Idlers - 2 x 636072
Both SKF numbers.

Barry -
I thought the idler was bigger than the tensioner, does the tensioner have enough adjustment to take this up ?

Dan,so it is...I have had no problems with the bigger dia. bearings I use.As you can see from the pic,this one has been on my engine for ages already.

Ok, I ended up buying the tensioner bearing and machining up my own idlers that take 2 x 6203 deep groove ball bearings.