V Belt and tensioner

[ironworker40]

You CAN'T use enclosed spring design without changing bracket. This is the only tensioner I have never heard of a problem with. Keep it. It is also used on 5.8 gas engines, I changed one last week on my friends van. It was original from 1994 and had 1300,000 miles on it and it was fine but idler was shot so we did it for preventative maintenance.
If you get one from napa it has a steel pulley not plastic.

Make sure you route belt correctly, and it is on all pulleys correctly. Check all pulleys and especially the idler pulley bearings. Idler is plastic and may be worn uneven also.

If it is riding in the edge of tensioner you may have dropped the spacer that was behind tensioner. My truck was that way when I bought it. I used a 3/8" (sae I think) washer, it was the right thickness.

 

[ironworker40]

One more thing is there is a slight amount of play in the a/c compressor bolt if you need to adjust that pulley.

 

[IDIoit]

You CAN'T use enclosed spring design without changing bracket.

hmmm, the open spring design is what my engine calls for, but i put the closed design spring is what i installed.
what makes it different?
both have a bolt and a locater, right?

 

[Spun4Fun]

You CAN'T use enclosed spring design without changing bracket. This is the only tensioner I have never heard of a problem with. Keep it. It is also used on 5.8 gas engines, I changed one last week on my friends van. It was original from 1994 and had 1300,000 miles on it and it was fine but idler was shot so we did it for preventative maintenance.
If you get one from napa it has a steel pulley not plastic.

Make sure you route belt correctly, and it is on all pulleys correctly. Check all pulleys and especially the idler pulley bearings. Idler is plastic and may be worn uneven also.

If it is riding in the edge of tensioner you may have dropped the spacer that was behind tensioner. My truck was that way when I bought it. I used a 3/8" (sae I think) washer, it was the right thickness.

You Are right and correct about using the new closed design pulley tensioner style , I have to change the bracket . I also went with the NAPA part like you said since it came with the steel pulley rather than the cheep looking plastic one from other parts store .


I found the problem after reading your post or at least i think .My idler was rounded and the bearing was dried out and feels sluggish .. I bough a new one from NAPA as well .


I also found a 3/8 SS washer .DO i need to use it for sure or this is an insurance measure

 

[Spun4Fun]

IDIoit : The housing of the closed spring have to cast alum studs sticking out as i compared it at the parts store with the open spring , These 2 studs need to set in the grove area designed in the late model 94 and up to secure the tensioner , My 93 does not have that design

 

[IDIoit]

thats the quandry,
everything i order is ordered for a 93 IDIT, so it dont get confused with a PSD
anyways, i hope you found the issue.

 

[Spun4Fun]

Put every thing back together including the washer which i highly recommend not ( It caused more unnecessary gap ) It also caused the center bolt not to lock to needed torque spec . Any way the belt set right on and perfectly aligned up ..

But Now i need a tensioner bracket or Heli Coil it as the washer caused the bolt to over spin the thread to make up the difference :***:


Will a Heli coil hold , Do i need a tensioner bracket which mount ( AC , and PS bracket) , Or can i get away by using a Nut from the back to hold the center bolt in place to max 40lb torque rather than removing the power steering pump and fork money for a bracket . I know in the future if i have to do that i need to remove the bracket

 

[Spun4Fun]

Well the Lock not from the back to hole the center tensioner bolt did not work as the nut is 2 large for the space in the back of the bracket ...


My other op is Either Heli Coil or


If some one have a spare bracket for 93 7.3 Idi with the open spring tensioner and want to part with it i would really appreciate it guys ..


Thanks

 

[Spun4Fun]

Helicoiled the thread inside the bracket for the center tensioner bolt and used the old tensioner bolt to test and so far it is pretty snug so am going to install the new tensioner tomorrow .

Can any one share the torque spec for the following bolts :

The 4 10mm bolts that hole the AC compressor

The 3 bolts that hold the Vacuum pump

The 3 15mm bolts that holds the main bracket to the block

 

[stealth13777]

A properly installed heli coil will hold no problem. Not sure on the tq spec though sorry. I torqued mine to the 'good' spec with my well calibrated hand haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ironworker40]

With mine the belt wanted to ride to the front edge of the tensioner pulley without the washer. I found a diagram of it and it showed a spacer behind the tensioner. Ill look for the diagram but i cant do it now im doing ball joints and such

 

[Spun4Fun]

ironworker . when i took off the Original tensioner i had no washer unless you referring to the one up front . there is no one go to the back .. Well all good now Helicoil fixed the problem and put good 38 ft of torque and it's holding .. I put the belt back on and it's lined up perfect .

I would say the main issue was 2 things an idler pulley rounded , 2nd the center bolt support inside the tensioner was worn out and causing the tensioner to play between the 2 factors it resulted in a sliding belt .. I am so glad its all taken care off as i was going to do 125 mile trip

 

[Spun4Fun]

Thanks for every one who assisted me to fix this problem .

 

[ironworker40]

Your welcome and sorry that the fix for mine didnt work for you and caused you more headaches. Mine has bad the spacer in it for two years now with no problems

 

[Spun4Fun]

-ironworker40.. No worry at all i had to sharpen my Thread repair skills Honestly without reading your post i wouldn't thought of NAPA parts which is more durable and comes with metal Pulley rather than the cheep plastic one that being offered by all other parts store ,i also bought a New idler which was one of my main issues .. So it all worked out ...