Help with fan belts

[Kentex Rick]

I am having issues installing new belts; they seem to be an inch short! I don't know if the alternator was replaced by PO with the wrong one or what. I have completely removed the tensioner hold down bolt, but the alternator won't go over far enough for me to get the new belts on. Does anyone have any idea on what is going on here?

 

[ewillis]

Did you loosen the lock bolt?

 

[Kentex Rick]

I took it all the way out!

 

[ewillis]

I took it all the way out!

You took the tensioner bolt or lock bolt or both all the way out?

 

[Kentex Rick]

The lock bolt, trying to get some extra room, But the alternator hits the motor before I have enough room to get the belt on?

 

[ewillis]

If the tensioner bolt is removed completely and the lock bolt is loose there should definitely be enough room provided the belts are routed correctly. This thread may be of use Changing your belts in 25 minutes

 

[Bubba01]

Wrong routing probably. Mine were routed wrong and I spent an hour trying to get them on. They go on the outside of the idler.

 

[Kentex Rick]

 

[Kentex Rick]

Yep, mine were routed wrong. Thanks guys, found this pic in the thread @ewillis pointed out, back to the driveway.

 

[Kentex Rick]

And done! Cheers

 

[flintknapper]

Good job guys!

Incorrect 'routing' is easy to do on these things. We get used to looking at vehicles with 'serpentine' belts (not the V belts on our 80's) and then try to apply that convoluted tensioner routing to our much simpler systems.

The only other possibility (assuming correct belts and brackets) is an over-sized pulley on one or more parts.


Flint.

 

[Kentex Rick]

Wrong routing probably. Mine were routed wrong and I spent an hour trying to get them on. They go on the outside of the idler.

Good job guys!

Incorrect 'routing' is easy to do on these things. We get used to looking at vehicles with 'serpentine' belts (not the V belts on our 80's) and then try to apply that convoluted tensioner routing to our much simpler systems.

The only other possibility (assuming correct belts and brackets) is an over-sized pulley on one or more parts.


Flint.

Yep, totally my fault!I have toasted two sets of belts since my head gasket. I was putting them on wrong, not even looking closely at the FSM as I had throughout the whole process. Thanks @Bubba01 for the advice, although I had just figured it out for myself, after seeing that pic. that @ewillis helped out with. Total brain fart, as @flintknapper pointed out, I just assumed they went over the idler pulley. My old belts looked good so I reused them; they must have been stretched to the limit. they only made it 400 miles. then I spent an hour and a half in the NAPA parking lot in BFE, trying different belts, because the ones they showed to be correct wouldn't fit! I hope this helps someone else. Thanks to IH8MUD, I couldn't do it without ya!

 

[PanchoLedezma]

Well, I'm guilty.

i had to replace the alternator bearing, i'm wondering now, i have a less than 2mm movement in the water pump/fan pulley, you guys think this worth replacement, i been looking for changing the bearing but all i found is the complete water pump...