timing belt issues on 99 rodeo

friends got a 99 rodeo with the v6 in it. his water pump went bad. i have changed water pumps out that run off the timing belt before. this one is giving me a trouble. the timing belt adjuster well not relax to give me play in to slide to belt on. its not spring loaded . well most of you should know that. but down do i get the road to go down?

someone help so he does not lose his job.

You have to remove the tensioner from the engine and compress the piston with a vice and insert a pin to hold it. Reinstall and when you have the belt installed, pull the pin.

ok, well he is just getting a new one. b/c it wont move we took it off to day so. but thinks it does help me out to know what i need to do next time it happens.

one last thing does the crank pulling bold left or right handed. i got around not taking it off to get to the water pump things to a broken timming cover but he has a new one to put back on.

The crank pulley bolt is standard thread. Lefty loosy, righty tighty.