Keeping timing belt tensioner unpinned.
 

I got my head off to do a few things, I know I should have pinned the timing belt tensioner or kept the rod in there but couldnt at the time. Is it bad to have the tensioner fully extended like that? From what I remember there's a circlip that holds the piston assembly in but I don't see any damage being done, just one of those things going through my head since I'm ADD with stuff not being sure of.

It should be ok, I just put it in a vise and hold the pin with a small hex key.

+1, just dont let it sit that way for a long period of time.

You know, they DO make a tool to compress the tensioner assembly as a whole, screws into the front of the block.

I think he did say he had the threaded rod in there, but had to remove it for some reason. I guess you should have put a pin in the tensioner then. :)