[rondeo]

Question is: How far out is too far?
If the poiner is not on the line but still within the cutout for example, is that OK?
I don't know.

The engine may run fine but if the belt tension is out far enough I guess the life of the belt may be shortened.

Maybe check the pointer position and re tension as necessary. Ask whether it is essential that the crankshaft bolt should be loosened to allow the tension to balance on both sides of the cam/crank sprockets.

I found the newly installed tensioner pointer on one of mine moved up and down a bit within the cutout while rotating the engine, regardless of number of turns.

After doing my two cars I felt I was stress tested enough to do another one, but in ten years I'll have forgotten how to do it anyway.

Tensioning the belt is one of the finer points I reckon.

Wouldn't be such a big deal if the crank bolt wasn't so enthusiastically locktited and has to be replaced with a new one after removing.

I think the best way is to temporarily use the old bolt to turn the engine and set the tension
as many times as required, then put the new bolt in when it's settled down.