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

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Great write up. The drive belt adjuster can be accessed with a 2' extension through the driver side fender. If you remove the dust cover thing over the P/S gear box you can see the adjuster. Should save some time compared to removing the battery and tray.
 
racerdave said:
Did you loosen the bolt in the center of the pulley?
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Sorry, I probably wasn't clear. The pulley rotates without problem, it does not 'slide' on the track to allow me to add or remove tension (or change my belts!)
 
NaterGator said:
Sorry, I probably wasn't clear. The pulley rotates without problem, it does not 'slide' on the track to allow me to add or remove tension (or change my belts!)
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There is a bolt in the center of the pulley that needs to be loosened slightly at allow the pulley to slide. Once you have the tension set with the new belt on tighten it back up. Reach your hand up in the center of the pulley and you will feel it.
 
IdahoDoug said:
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
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LMAO!!!!
 
FAQs if not already!

Nice write up and great pictures. I still need to get digital camera and go back and add pictures to the front brake write up I did a while ago.

Thanks again for the write-up/pics (When I changed my belts, I searched and printed out about 4 or 5 threads to get the info. None had the detailed pictures you provided).

Riley
 
Great write up. Did my belts last night. PO had carquest ones on there, couldn't stand the whine any longer. Nice and quiet now. Thanks for the pics of the belt packages. Got the first 2 belts on no problem, didn't have to remove batt tray.:D But was really struggling with the a/c belt, seemed too small. So I go back inside and look at these pics and my part# was 99332-10890-78. Don't know how the guy gave me the wrong belt but if I couldn't check my number last night who know's how long I'd be out there.:doh: Well I guess a couple of days without a/c won't be too bad(supposed to be 8 degrees tonight).
 
I think this should be modified before putting it in the FAQ. There's no need to remove the battery tray and no need to remove the splash pan under the engine. Those add 30 minutes to a 20 minute job. I feel the FAQ should reflect the best information possible for new 80 owners and it's been noted many times here the quickest method is to simply remove the belts using the hole Mr. T provided in the splash shield, reinstall the new belts, tension them and you're done. Great pictures, though!!

Regards,

DougM
 
IdahoDoug said:
I think this should be modified before putting it in the FAQ. There's no need to remove the battery tray and no need to remove the splash pan under the engine. Those add 30 minutes to a 20 minute job. I feel the FAQ should reflect the best information possible for new 80 owners and it's been noted many times here the quickest method is to simply remove the belts using the hole Mr. T provided in the splash shield, reinstall the new belts, tension them and you're done. Great pictures, though!!

Regards,

DougM
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I think the method described in this FAQ bit is perfect for the -first time through-. I.e. shadetree :banana: guy that has decided to 'take on' one of their first projects on a vehicle more involved than changing the oil. Using this method they will learn and understand what it is they're going after.

If you've pulled the splash pan once and used anti-seize on them, they're easy to remove/install.

The next side of this, when I change belts I change hoses at the same time. Although the spash doesn't -have- to come out for either, I think it makes it a lot easier.

Pulling the battery tray makes for better pictures. I don't suggest pulling it for this job though.

IMHO
 
While having the belts off is it possible to spin the pulleys for the ac, alternator, and water pump to tell if the bearings are in good or bad condition?
 
while i had the belts off, i changed the brushes in the alternator. to get the alternator out, the upper radiator hose has to be removed. but since i had just done a coolant change/flush i wasn't excited about removing it, so i replaced the brushes while leaving the alternator under the upper hose. nothing earth shattering, but wanted to post that it wasn't neccesary to remove that hose.
alternator_1.webp
 
you can get the alternator out without removing the battery tray or upper hose, just gotta unbolt the PS reservoir (leave the lines hooked up) unhook one harness that is in the way and it will come out the oil filter access "hole" last alternator swap took me about an hour.
 
ahh. didn't even think about removing the PS reservoir. thanks! yeah, that access "hole" is a relative term, huh? i thought about doing the job without removing battery tray, but i remembered this "step" (a few times...) and decided to go ahead and do it to give me a little more room.
cruiser_engine_pictures_024.webp
 
When you do great write up like this pick a title that can be found by search like "Drive Belt Change Replacement Alternator V Belt with Pics" This way all the Newbies can find with simple search
 
Hornd said:
When you do great write up like this pick a title that can be found by search like "Drive Belt Change Replacement Alternator V Belt with Pics" This way all the Newbies can find with simple search
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Why not search for: "drive belts" or "belts"

You could search for: "Why I need to change my drive belts because I don't know how." But I don't think you'll get many results.

But now that you have enter a post with you search criteria, no one in the future will ever have to revive an 8 year old thread to find this.

Thank you for your service!

Admittedly, there should be a link to this in the FAQ called "Drive Belts Installation" or something like that. That would be easier than sifting through 6 pages of threads on "belts".

Have a nice day!
 
Hi Guys,

I am changing my alt belt and need your help. I completely backed out the lock bolt, when I am ready to put it back in, I do not see any nut or hole it could screw into, I did not find any extra piece dropped on floor, either. Am I missing something here?

Thanks!
 
alt2

alt2

  • Media owner baselfish
  • Date added

so the yellow is your locking bolt - red is the adjusting bolt.

should have that little block which the adjusting bolt "adjusts" through
and the locking bolt "locks" / tightens to....

now if you completely backed out the adjusting bolt and then unscrewed - then that little block could have fallen out...
 
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