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Post by Charlie on Apr 7, 2020 1:26:12 GMT -5
In another thread, I made mention of replacing the fan belt idler/adjuster pulley. I ordered a new one... comes with a bracket and double sided spacer. Got it in the mail, looked it over and went to install it. Everything was fine... until I tried to tighten the belt. Couldn't do it. Now the belt is too big! WTF?!
After looking over it all again, I realized that the groove in the pulley was wider than the original pulley. So now, the belt sits deeper in the groove, causing the belt to be too big! Well damn! So, I go to Oreilly's with the belt in hand and ask them to give me something that's one inch shorter, and 1.5 inches shorter. Come home and found that the 1.5 inch shorter belt was the way to go! I had tried the one inch shorter, and I could get it snugged up good, but the adjustment was at the stop, and I figured if the belt stretched any after a few uses, I would not be able to tighten it any more.
SO, if any of you need to change that idler pulley on a big block with A/C, when you get the new one, compare the width of the groove between the old and the new. If the new one looks wider, then plan on buying a shorter belt. The belt I found to work was a Master Pro 7425. It's a 3/8" X 43 1/4" OC. I would have bought a Gates, but they said it would need to be ordered, and I wasn't waiting.
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Post by 71se3834v on Apr 7, 2020 7:41:09 GMT -5
What pulley did you get? I'm collecting info for future use. Was there any other options out there?
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Post by Charlie on Apr 7, 2020 9:42:04 GMT -5
This is what I purchased...
www.moparmall.com/Fan-Belt-Idler-Pulley-Spacer-for-1969-1970-MoPar-p/817-349-_-801-464.htm
It seems there are several people that sell this online. I was not able to get it thru Oreilly's, Advance, or any of the other local walk-in parts houses. I wish I would have taken a photo of the two pulleys side by side before installing in the car... you can certainly see a difference of the groove size between what was in the car, and what I bought.
I suppose I could have used a wider belt. I think the next width is 7/16... but then that may have been too big for the crank pulley and fan pulley... which are a smaller width. |
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Post by 71se3834v on Apr 7, 2020 21:19:22 GMT -5
Ouch! $134 and it wasn't right. Seems like the pulley was meant for a 1/2" belt. If you had used a wider belt on it would have run too far outside the crank pulley groove and might have jumped off or surely worn prematurely.
Any idea the diameter off the pulley? My car won't be home for a couple of months yet. I'm gonna look in my outdoor power equipment books to see what I can get in a 3/8" pulley. Don't remember, does the pulley bolt onto the arm? If not I might cut it off and drill a hole to mount a new one when the time comes.
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Post by Charlie on Apr 7, 2020 23:33:30 GMT -5
The pulley CAN be easily removed from the bracket... but the bearing is not serviceable. In fact, I discovered you can purchase just the pulley itself for about sixty some-odd dollars... without the bracket and spacer.
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Post by 71se3834v on Apr 8, 2020 7:52:39 GMT -5
Thought so. It's been since 2014 since I had mine off and just couldn't remember. I do remember it was a one piece deal, pulley and stud.
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Post by Charlie on Jul 11, 2020 15:02:32 GMT -5
So I am back from sea... and trying to get used to this horrible summer heat! Being that I have been spending the last few months in the Puget Sound,
Washington, and Alaska, it's taking me some time to get acclimated to Texas in July!
Just before going to sea, I changed the pulley mentioned in this thread. It was usually making a horrible screeching sound on the highway, and found the bearing to be shot. Now, a few months later, I am getting a belt screeching sound on the highway again. I checked the pulley I changed... feels good and tight. I also checked to make sure there was no wobble at the water pump, AC, and alternator. All seems good. So why am I getting this screech from the belts when I get up to 70?
Just for giggles, I tightened the water pump / idler belt just a little to see if that would help. It did... for about an hour. Then the screeches came back. I feel like it's plenty tight enough. Seems like tightening it any more will just stretch the belt.
Thoughts? Ideas?
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Admin
FORUM OWNER
Posts: 6,891
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Post by Admin on Jul 12, 2020 18:36:53 GMT -5
Overwintering can stretch the belt, and trash the bearings on the accessories driven by that belt.
Sounds like the belt may be glazed. Once glazed, they're pretty hard to bring back.
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Post by Charlie on Jul 12, 2020 20:05:53 GMT -5
Glazed? They are brand-new belts! They were installed with the new pulley! Pulley and belts probably have about 500 miles on them. Grrrrr!!!
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Post by 71se3834v on Jul 12, 2020 20:17:23 GMT -5
Any chance the pulley spins easily and seems to spin for a long time when you spin it? Or does it come to a stop after a few revolutions.
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