Combination idler recoil and tension adjustment assembly and method for identifying source of leakage in same

An idler recoil and tension adjustment assembly is disclosed which provides a visual indication to the operator when either the idler recoil section or the tension adjustment section has developed a leak. The idler recoil and tension adjustment assembly includes a housing that accommodates a reciprocating shaft that includes both an idler recoil section and a tension adjustment section. The tension adjustment section is in communication with the grease port and the idler recoil section is in communication with a gas port. The grease and gas ports are coupled to the reciprocating shaft at an attachment section disposed between the idler recoil and tension adjustment sections. A blocking plate is slideably mounted to the attachment section and a shaft or roller is provided inside the housing so that when a leak develops in one of the sections the blocking plate may provide a visual indication to the operator as to which section, the idler recoil or the tension adjustment, is experiencing a leak.