RTH: Drive belts installed, permission to start the Cruiser!

RTH: Drive belts installed, permission to start the Cruiser! * 56k warning *

Just installed new drive belts and AC belt but I'm not sure if they are too tight or not tight enough. Any way to find out? What happens when I start the truck if the belts are too tight or too loose?

Snapped a few pics to show the bolt threads in case that can be used as a reference.



DRIVE BELT ADJUSTING BOLT AND LOCK BOLT PIC 1


DRIVE BELT ADJUSTING BOLT AND LOCK BOLT PIC 2


AC ADJUSTING BOLT

oAVXy

You should have about 1/2" of deflection in the middle section of the belt.

beno: I used a past post of yours to help with this, so thanks!!! I think that's about where the belt is at now (1/2") but this is my first belt change so I'm a little unsure of myself. Any symptoms if the belt is too tight or to loose?

too loose they will slip and make noise, too tight and they will put an excessive load on the accessory's bearings,

they should feel "about right" witch does not do you much good, unfortunately the only way to express this in text or pictures is with the use of a belt tension gauge witch you probably do not have.

be aware that new belts will have a tendency to stretch so go back and check them after a day or so.


how about this, when you press on them with your fingers on a long span they should feel tought from the get go (no slop) but not super tight like a guitar string with no give at all.

Just tight enough is what I aim for. Anything above that, just causes extra wear on the water pump. Mine usualy do have a bit more than 1/2 inch deflection-it just feels right to my calibrated fingers. If you hear any slippage at all, tighten a bit and re check. If you are worried, there is an inexpensive tension guage I saw at CarQuest(?), but setting by feel is 100% effective in my experience.

Be sure to throw the old belts back with the tool kit. You never know when you might need them.

I like to use the "girlie man" belt tension standard. On the longest unsupported section of belt, press as hard as you can with two fingers and see if you can deflect the belt 3/4 inch. If you are girlie like Cdan, then this is an accurate test that they're too loose and you should tighten until you can move it about 1/2 inch. This assumes brand new belts which will subsequently loosen a bit. A used set I'd tighten slightly less since that will be final fit and they won't stretch/loosen more over time. I always try to "be" Cdan during this test, which requires me to work on the truck in a black strapless evening gown and stilleto 6" heels. This way I feel I am being authentic. It's hell on my french manicure, though....

DougM

IdahoDoug said:

which requires me to work on the truck in a black strapless evening gown and stilleto 6" heels.

DougM

Click to expand...

TMI

LOL!


Was that in the "un-rated" version of the headgasket DVD?...

Dog's hungry?

What is the best way to get to the ac belt adjustment bolt? From the top or bottom? I have noise on cold start up and when the AC kicks on. I figured out it was the ac belt because it made a squek when the car was running and the ac came on. I need to tighten it a bit. I will check both while I am in there.

Thanks,

uzj100

Mr. T put a nice hole in the steel splash pan that lines up with the AC belt tensioner bolt. Others here insist it's best to spend the extra time needlessly removing the splash pan. Meh. Loosen the lock bolt from the top, tighten the long tensioner bolt from underneath. While you're laying under there, bring a wrench for the 8 knuckle bolts and check them - that's a better use of extra time than removing the splash pan.

And don't wear cashmere - murder to get oil stains out....

Hugs, Cdan

How I changed the Drive belts and AC belt - 56k warning

Well I got the drive belts changed this weekend and decided it was time to give back to the forum that has helped me a great deal and saved me a ton of $$$. I'm a 1/2 banana guy (mechanically speaking of course... hehe), so for you all you people that are a little intimidated with working on your Cruiser, if I can do it, so can you! Total parts cost me $30 from local Toyota dealership. Of course I always recommend ordering from CruiserDan, but I neglected the belts and it was a change now or be stranded situation, as you can see in the picture near the end of this post. Just as a disclaimer, I'm posting this as a first time belt changer, so if any of this is incorrect, please do let me know and I'll edit this.

Changing Drive belts and AC belt

Toyota parts numbers
90916-02353
99332-10910


Tools
Ratchet
Universal joint socket adapter
10mm, 12mm, 14mm sockets
Socket extension
Eye protection


Step 1: Pop open the hood

Loosen battery terminals and disconnect



Loosen battery hold-down clamp and remove (2 bolts)



Unscrew battery tray and remove (5 bolts)



Crawl underneath the Cruiser and remove the splash shield (4 bolts)



Removing the AC belt

Crawl underneath the Cruiser. Loosen pulley adjusting bolt (14mm). This will move the pulley up and loosen the tension on the AC belt to allow for removal. Keep in mind that both the AC belt and the Drive belts are removed and installed “through” the radiator fan. You remove the belt by routing it around the fan blades and turning the fan with your hand (hope this makes sense).



Removing the Drive belts
Now move to the engine and locate the generator (alternator). Loosen the pivot bolt (14mm) on top of the alternator.



Loosen the lock bolt (12mm) on the bottom of the alternator.



Loosen the adjusting bolt (12mm) using your universal joint socket adapter and extension. I had to loosen this bolt until the threads barely were showing. The alternator should now be loose. You will need to push the alternator to the left towards the engine block to have enough slack to remove the belts.



The Drive belts are removed and installed “through” the radiator fan. You remove the belts (one at a time) by routing it around the fan blades and turning the fan with your hand.


Installing the Drive belts

You follow the same wisdom with routing the belts through the radiator fan blades. Install the belt closest to the engine block first, making sure it is wrapped around the correct pulley channels on both the top and bottom. You can feel the channels but I went underneath the Cruiser to make sure it was routed properly.


*Tighten the adjusting bolt (21 Nm, 210 kgf cm, 15 ft lbf)



*Tighten the pivot bolt (59 Nm, 600 kgf cm, 43 ft lbf)



*Tighten the lock bolt (59 Nm, 600 kgf cm, 43 ft lbf)




*How tight should the belt be? I did not use a torque wrench so I adjusted tension based on feel. “1/2 of deflection in the middle section of the belt” seems to be a good starting point.


Installing the AC belt
You follow the same wisdom with routing the belt through the radiator fan blades. Make sure the belt is wrapped around the correct pulley and channel. Then crawl underneath the Cruiser and *tighten the pulley adjusting bolt (39 Nm, 400 kgf cm, 29 ft lbf).

*How tight should the belt be? I did not use a torque wrench so I adjusted tension based on finger feel. “1/2 of deflection in the middle section of the belt” seems to be a good starting point.




Verification
Install the battery tray and connect the battery to the terminals. Start the Cruiser and make sure the belts are turning quietly and smoothly. I let the Cruiser idle for a minute and then revved the engine a few times. I then took it for a spin around the block before heading back to the garage. I checked the belt tension again using the “1/2 deflection” rule with my fingers. If you’re comfortable with the outcome go ahead and secure the battery if you haven’t done so, and screw the splash shield back on. That’s it and we’re done!!!



Hopefully your drive belts didn’t look this bad


This was my AC belt



Some additional reference photos

View from top


Alternator lock bolt and adjusting bolt


Alternator pivot bolt

Very nice pics. I wish I'd had these the first time I changed the belts on mine. It felt like it took me an hour to find that tensioner for the 2 belt set. Now that you know where it is, this can be done without removing the battery tray. Patience is key though.

Nice job. Well written up. This should be a FAQ addition.

Thanks RacerLex, nicely done.

-B-

That is FAQ material

RacerLex,

Thank you for the post..you gave me the push to do the v belts myself. I thought it was a little odd that my belts were falling apart in less then a year. After reading your post, it turns out my esteemed "mechanic" put the belts around the idler pulley, causing premature wear. I had purchased the OEM belts for the mechanic he ended up buying Goodyear belts as he told me the parts guy gave me the wrong belts.

NSP said:

RacerLex,

Thank you for the post..you gave me the push to do the v belts myself. I thought it was a little odd that my belts were falling apart in less then a year. After reading your post, it turns out my esteemed "mechanic" put the belts around the idler pulley, causing premature wear. I had purchased the OEM belts for the mechanic he ended up buying Goodyear belts as he told me the parts guy gave me the wrong belts.

Click to expand...

Good to know it worked out for you. It's unfortunate that some mechanics don't do due diligence and make sure things are done right but everyone makes mistakes I guess.

I just feel more comfortable using Toyota parts for most maintenance items, even for little things like wiper blades.

Anybody had a stuck AC idler pulley? I tried backing my bolt out and tapping the pulley lose with a hammer, tightening some to clear the 'track', but all to no avail. It seems seized pretty well, so I left a little PB on the tracks of the pulley and left this one until I get home for spring break.

If, however, this has happened to you and you have some ingenious idea to break the pulley free, let me know

NaterGator said:

Anybody had a stuck AC idler pulley? I tried backing my bolt out and tapping the pulley lose with a hammer, tightening some to clear the 'track', but all to no avail. It seems seized pretty well, so I left a little PB on the tracks of the pulley and left this one until I get home for spring break.

If, however, this has happened to you and you have some ingenious idea to break the pulley free, let me know

Click to expand...

Did you loosen the bolt in the center of the pulley?