I got really lucky and dodged a bullet today

[F34R]

DANG! the TB is the first thing I check on the M20, you're lucky!

[Shangsta]

You of all people should no better, glad you dodged the bullet

[nando]

Had to un-lurk, and say same thing happened to me with that same tensioner.
I could hear the belt flapping while the engine rpm were dropping after revving it.

I installed the tensioner a few months before i noticed a problem, so its not just a matter
of age, its just a bad design

There is different design tensioner, where the post attaches has a larger diameter

the original tensioner has a radiused edge and no groove on the side that faces the belt. this isn't the first one I've heard of that failed and they were typically long before the 50,000 mile belt change interval.

[Verdurous]

I've changed mine twice so far, neither time was it anywhere near that... you are lucky to find that before it busted. Nice catch! Now go buy a lotto ticket.