Installed new belts and slee headlight harness....comments and a question on bulbs

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Dec 2, 2003
Threads
211
Messages
3,418
Location
Rockville, MD
Man, I set out to do what I thought was gonna be a nice peaceful wrenching session, and boy was I wrong. I've been putting off replacing my squeeky belts for some time now, and decided yesterday was the day to do it. Well of course I'd been driving the cruiser all day so everything was hot as he!!. After a few mild burns on my forearms from trying to loosen the tensioner and bumping into the head, I decided perhaps I should install the slee headlight harness I'd also been putting off for quite sometime(I think I recieved it from Slee back in December :doh: ).

The headlight harness was remarkably easy to install. The instructions were very clear, although there wasn't much to explain once you looked at it. Total time to install the headlight harness was about 30mins including running the harness under the core support and everything. I'd say about a :banana: job.

Now that the motor had cooled down enough to work on it, I got to wrestle with the belts. Is it me, or did they make both tensioners nearly impossible to loosen and tighten?? The adjustment bolt is easy to access on the lower tensioner, but the pulley bolts and the upper tensioner bolts were a major PITA. After about 2.5 hours of wrestling I finally got the old belts off and the new ones on, but not without some cussing, 2 step #6's, lots of little cuts, and a coating of grease over both of my arms. It seemed that even with the tensioner's loose there wasn't enough slack in the belt to get them on and off w/o some serious wrestling. Maybe I missed something? I'd say changing the belts is a :banana: :banana: :banana: job, simply 'cause it's a PITA to get to the tensioner bolts and the job takes a while.

Alright, so at this point in the evening, I've finally gotten the belts finished, fire it up and everything runs smoothly. Go to turn the lights on to see what kind of difference the harness made and I'll be damned if one of my low-beam bulbs got damaged during the re-install :whoops: So this raises the question, what bulbs are "THE" bulbs to get. I thought about just getting whatever replacement bulbs they have at Advanced Auto, by why simply replace when you can upgrade :D

Now, time for an oil change....I wonder what surpises that has in store for me :rolleyes: :D

Ary
 
You missed the whole John Deere HIR bulb thread?
IMO, they're the ones to get. Find the original group buy thread to get the link for the site selling them...or maybe someone how has the link saved will post it here...
 
I just put in my "John Deere" bulbs last night. They are the HIR2 low beams.

I was in too much of a hurry to take pics.

Two minutes with a dremel and they were a perfect fit.

The difference in light output is significant.

Check the FAQ for part number, the John Deere ones are under $27 each, which is a good price from what I can tell.

By the way, they are really made by Toshiba and just put in a John Deere box...

Charlie
 
The HIR's are great--do a search there is a guy on ebay that sells them for $30 each with the tabs trimed--DS charges 40+ per light.... they will be listed as 9011/9012 but they are equal to 9005/9006.
 
Arya,
My thoughts on the belts exactly.
Now you see why people praise the ratcheting wrenches
 
After pondering the issue for a few minutes, I had an epiphany.....I'm a BROKE college student :D The decision was made to simply replace the bulb for $8 as opposed to upgrading for $60+. Maybe this summer when I'm working I'll feel the need, but it's not likely. Usually when I really need to be able to see I can use my highbeams, so lack of lighting has never really been an issue.

Thanks for the input nevertheless.

Ary
 
Arya Ebrahimi said:
After pondering the issue for a few minutes, I had an epiphany.....I'm a BROKE college student :D The decision was made to simply replace the bulb for $8 as opposed to upgrading for $60+. ...Ary
Rather spend the $52 on a hottie at the local pub? :D
 
Arya,

You young whippersnappers just keep shunning the search function, eh? Heh. Within the last week there was a tip to get the upper tensioner bolt off with a deep socket that gives you leverage to push the belt aside to loosen it (1 minute to loosen). I've posted that you don't need to remove the lower skidplate as Mr. T provided an access hole in it for the lower tensioner. And in the same post I explained how you simply put the tight lower (A/C) belt part way on, then a bump of the key and the starter does the work for 'ya. I'll be putting new belts on the 97 (sitting on the bench from Cdan) and if it takes me 20 minutes it will be because I'm also putting a new lower tensioner pulley on...

DougM
 
See, it didn't occur to me to search about putting the belts on. I figured it was a :banana: job and didn't really plan ahead. I didn't remove the skid plate, and I did use the access hole. I also managed to loosen the upper tensioner w/ my fingers once I broke it loose w/ a box wrench. All in all it wasn't any one thing that was bad, just the combination of it all. I am curious though as to how you got the other 2 belts on, the AC belt didn't really fight me much at all, it was the other 2.

Ary
 
Hmm. I recall needing the bump all three times I've put new belts on the 93 for one belt, thought it was the thicker/shorter/stiffer lower belt. Please tell me you used OEM Toyota belts?

Anyhow, maybe it's the matched alternator belt pair I used the engine help on. Dunno but I'll know within the week if it's the same way on the 97.

BTW, you did line up the matched belt labels, right? This prevents them from getting an asynchronous pull as each labeled spot goes over the pulleys. The labels are purposely put on the seams and the seams are slightly thicker, which causes the slight pull on each revolution. If you don't do this, they'll build up tremendous heat and get glazed in short order - negating the whole replacement in a matter of months. (referring to the matched pair here)

DougM
 
I did use Toyota belts, and no I didn't line up the labels. I've got some other stuff to do on the truck next week, so I guess I'll check on them then and see how they look.

Ary
 
Last edited:
IdahoDoug said:
BTW, you did line up the matched belt labels, right? This prevents them from getting an asynchronous pull as each labeled spot goes over the pulleys. The labels are purposely put on the seams and the seams are slightly thicker, which causes the slight pull on each revolution. If you don't do this, they'll build up tremendous heat and get glazed in short order - negating the whole replacement in a matter of months. (referring to the matched pair here)

DougM

Hmmm, that reminds me of something I learned in evolutionary biology about the two species of cow that have evolved in hilly ranch country. One species is adapted to roam clockwise in the hills, and the other roams counter-clockwise. Slightely different leg/hip structure apparently. Cross-breeding not possible. Boy I miss school, I love learning stuff like that.
 
lovetoski said:
Hmmm, that reminds me of something I learned in evolutionary biology about the two species of cow that have evolved in hilly ranch country. One species is adapted to roam clockwise in the hills, and the other roams counter-clockwise. Slightely different leg/hip structure apparently. Cross-breeding not possible. Boy I miss school, I love learning stuff like that.

ROFL :D
 
That's hilarious. Wonder if herds of Elk, Deer and other ungulates do the same adaptation? Would be nice to know if you were a hunter (I'm not) as when you pull the trigger they'll run in a circle.

DougM
 
IdahoDoug said:
Arya,

You young whippersnappers just keep shunning the search function, eh? Heh.


Arya you are one of the 'whippersnappers' who knows better. Better be careful you don't want -B- to put you into the twit filter. :doh:

Oh and don't skimp on the bulbs I finally put my HIR's in the the difference is tremendous. :bounce2: :bounce: :bounce2:
 
Hey Acolella,

Your box is full :flipoff2: The cheap link is www.hirheadlights.com Maybe the guy got nailed for selling them with the trimmed tabs--they are intended for tractors--I highly recomend them.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom