Was there a belt tensioner for the stock Air ('76)?

[weeboo]

I have been thinking about putting a belt into my piggy to see if the stock AC works, but was looking under the hood around and don't see a tensioner / tension adjustment wheel. I do see a bracket in there which has me suspicious that one may have existed once. Can anyone verify whether or not it was supposed to have one (preferably with photos?)

Thanks!

 

[Eric Ellis]

I have been thinking about putting a belt into my piggy to see if the stock AC works, but was looking under the hood around and don't see a tensioner / tension adjustment wheel. I do see a bracket in there which has me suspicious that one may have existed once. Can anyone verify whether or not it was supposed to have one (preferably with photos?)

Thanks!

Don't have an answer for sure...my 75 has a system toyota installed but using the york compressor (so not Japanese stock). They used the smog pump/ airpump on its bracket for tensioning.

 

[cruiserbrett]

All pre '79 OEM NipponDenso systems adjusted belt tensions by moving the compressor. Early style 2 cylinder ND compressors mounted on the bottom, and the motor mount bracket has slots for belt adjustment.

Pics of compressor would help...

Do you have a narrow rearmost groove on the balancer?

 

[weeboo]

All pre '79 OEM NipponDenso systems adjusted belt tensions by moving the compressor. Early style 2 cylinder ND compressors mounted on the bottom, and the motor mount bracket has slots for belt adjustment.

Pics of compressor would help...

Do you have a narrow rearmost groove on the balancer?

i'll grab some pics tomorrow...

 

[weeboo]

this photo shows the little bracket underneath the wheel on the compressor...

 

[weeboo]

 

[weeboo]

BAck side of the compressor:

 

[cruiserbrett]

that is dealer add on aftermarket A/C, with a tecumseh(sp?) compressor... It appears to me that the small tab under the compressor is actually for the now deleted smog pump mount bracket.

Dunno if there is supposed to be an idler, but a trip to the auto parts store should net a cheap one you could use...

 

[weeboo]

I'm no mechanic, but am I right in thinking that there should be some simple pulley-with-a-bolt that'll go onto the tab below the compressor? Is that what you mean by "idler?'

that is dealer add on aftermarket A/C, with a tecumseh(sp?) compressor... It appears to me that the small tab under the compressor is actually for the now deleted smog pump mount bracket.

Dunno if there is supposed to be an idler, but a trip to the auto parts store should net a cheap one you could use...

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! It doesn't loook like the compressor is set up to pivot on it's base to allow for tensioning the belt, like the alternator is. Usually, A/C compressors do not share the belt with another unit, like the alternator, which could be moved to adjust tension. I am guessing that you are missing some harware. To me it looks like there should be an adjustable pulley mounted between the valve cover and the pump. It may have been mounted to that nice aftermarket bracket that is bolted on top of the head by the #1 AIR injector nozzle. Look at what else lines up with the A/C pulley. It may run on the crank pulley by itself, or it could run over the water pump also. There should be some empty pulley grooves somewhere. If you added a vertical brace between the compressor and valve cover, you might be able to add a spring loaded tensioner pulley like many Chevies use. John

 

[weeboo]

I really appreciate the responses! I'll take abother look, but I'm sure there aren't any more empty pulleys. I will also hunt down some pictures of a chevy spring-loaded tensioner and see what I can figure out... I'm going to try to do all of this on the cheap because I don't even know if the AC works!

 

[cruiserbrett]

I wouldnt spend too much time on the idler pulley until you see if the system even holds refrigerant, since the hoses and clamps are way old school and dont cut it for r134a, since its like 10 times smaller sized molecule than r12, and it is almost double the high side pressure when correctly charged. What I am getting at, is unless the system is holding r12 still, it might not be worth dealing with those 70's vintage hoses... take it to a shop, and have them vacuum the system down and check for leaks...If there are leaks, you will be better off sourcing a new compressor and having new barrier wall(r134a compatible) hose made so you dont have to loose $200 worth of r12. Vintage air and others make nice brackets for sanden 508 compressors, with adjustment provisions...