Cutting off a timing belt?

[Rickjames8]

So I am doing pretty well at my 60k service, until I encountered a stripped hole in the tensioner pulley body. That little tab where I'm supposed to put one of the 10mm fan bolts and release pressure. I turned it super slowly as advised, and it's still stripped. I can twist the bolt in and out, so there are *some* threads, but not enough to hold the bolt as I put pressure on the piston.

I plan to replace this part anyway. Is it ok to cut off the belt with a knife or snips, or would that cause too fast of a release for the cams? Is there any other way to slowly release the tension?

I've tried getting in there with a tap, and it's in too awkward of a place.

[Rickjames8]

I went out and had another look and came up with an idea that worked.

The tensioner body is held on by 2 bolts and a nut. I made sure the nut was tight and completely removed the two bolts. Then, ever so slowly, I loosened the nut. As I loosened it, the tensioner slowly rotated and let the tension go. Thought I'd post for anyone who finds themselves in a similar predicament.

[ThisIsSparTTa]

It's pretty common that you'll want to loosen those tensioner bolts/nuts anyways and loosening the idler pulleys can help too. that includes for reinstall also, it can be hard to get the belt on without that.

[evildky]

For clarification cutting the belt won't hurt anything. The popular myth about not letting the cams rotate with the belt off is a misnomer. If the am snaps it just closes valves, nothing gets bent or damaged just a bit more difficult to get everything to line back up for the new belt.