Customer Reviews:
 Way cool little tool September 1, 2010
Peter Freeland (Purcellville, VA United States)
I ordered this gadget because I needed what it does, but didn't really pay much attention to the mechanism itself. Therefore, when my "Krikit" arrived, I definitely had to study it for a minute or two, because it was not entirely clear how it works. The picture on the photo-copied instructions was too faded to be any help. However, I finally understood it, took it out in the driveway, and it worked first try. It's actually a pretty clever mechanism. (Just lay it flat along the belt, push the black button until it clicks, and look at where the little lever arm is on the scale. I don't have an independent way to measure its accuracy, but based on what I know -- belt slightly loose, and what the proper tension spec is -- the measurement seems quite plausible. So, in summary, it's cheap, pocket-sized, elegant, and most important, it actually works.
 A nice tool for the job November 22, 2008
EBR
This little device works well for checking the tension on the belts in your car. It does take a few times to be able to get consistent readings, but once practiced, a straightforward task. Good value for the money.
 I will give it a try November 11, 2008
D. A. Clarke (watsonville, ca)
As I don't have anything to compare it to, I am unsure of the accuracy. You push on a "clicker", like a child's toy and then read a scale. It is not a "high resolution" tool but it is not expensive and I will give it a try. Of course one can get a ballpark estimate by judging the distance pushed with a finger. I guess I like the idea of a second estimate... I would be curious what professional mechanics think but I guess they are used to estimating by "feel".
 Total junk February 1, 2010
Valdemar (Los Angeles, CA)
Don't be surprised if your belt snaps on you while you're trying to tension it to the spec using this junk. This tester consistently reads values that are like 1/2 what the actual tension is. Perhaps it works on that one exact belt they used to calibrate it, but I couldn't care less because it is not the belt my car uses. Too bad there is no 0-star rating, as this is exactly what this product earns. The price under $20 for a working tension gauge sounds too good to be true? Then it probably is.
WARNING do not trust this for your vehicle May 18, 2010
Sean Marrone (Shanti on a mountain)
This product is cheap, misrepresented, and defective. I would not recommend using this when adjusting tension on any belt.
It states that it is for V-belts, not serpentine, as others have stated. Well I did not use this on a serpentine belt rather a power steering and a.c. compressor/alternator belt (Honda Accord). The service manual states that if you are to adjust according to deflection, which this product more or less tries to do, I would need 22lbs of pressure for proper testing. Well, I depressed the button on this tool with 1 gallon of fluid (8.3 lbs) to test if it was close to the required 22lbs. With the jug on top of the button, it depressed immediately. This means that the tool's "click" comes with a pressure of less than 8.3 lbs--much less than what can be generated by using a thumb or fore finger.
Now of course I still had to test this to see what readings I would get from it. The power steering belt requires around 88-120 lbs (used belt) and this tool consistently read 70 lbs. I thought: "Ok, fair enough. Maybe it is a little loose", however there is no squealing.
Then I tried the A.C compressor/alternator belt that is best set between 110-130 lbs (used belt). This little gadget measured the latter at a resounding 50 lbs! Multiple times, mind you. This "50 lbs" coming with a deflection of .30 inches (using moderate pressure from my finger). 50 lbs? Yea right! And if that was not enough, the button broke on the last measurement.
Does this cheap and inconsistent tensioner sound like the type of tool to trust your belts too? Hmm..no, I did not think so. If you are considering this product, please move elsewhere.
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