So, I changed all three belts and life was good. Drove it for at least a day and everything was fine. This morning, I start up the truck to an awful fan belt squeal. I tried loosening the belts, I tried tightening the belts and even taking each one off one by one. In doing so, I can tell that the squeal is coming from the water pump.

I'm afraid to ask but is this an indicator that the pump is going out? Please say no. Somebody give me a magic fix here. The pump looks like a pretty big job.

As always, Thanks for your help.

Keith

 

Holy cow! What did I do? Now, in addition to the water pump racket, the power steering pump is making noise and freezing up when I turn the wheel. What on earth did I do to the truck? Please any suggestions?

 

It might be as simple as the aftermarket belts. The angle in them might not be the same angle as the grooves in the pullies. Or made out of crumby rubber. Try putting your old belts back on it. See if you still get the squeal. Good Luck!

 

Well, JEFFFAFA

I'm actually glad that only you have replied so far. I'll go on the official record and say that I yelled "The Sky is Falling" on this one a little too early. It's been so long since I installed an old fan belt that didn't have an "auto-tension" pulley. I just had no concept of what "Tight Enough" was. I think I was afraid that I would put too much tension on the belt and hurt something and that is what I thought I did. Obviously, it wasn't tight enough and after pulling a little harder, magically, all the squeaking went away.

I'm sorry to hit the message board so fast with this. You guys are just so knowledgeable I couldn't resist.

All is right with the world again. Thanks everyone.

Keith

 

I was going to ask you pretty well immediately after your post whether or not the belt was tight, but I figured you would've checked that already. A good rule of thumb is 1/4" of slack between the pulleys.

An old trick to fix a squeaky but tight belt is to rub a bar of soap on the belt. Shuts it up real quick.

 

See Jeff above.
Your new belt is probably thinner than what you removed. The auto parts monkey probably sold you a belt that is riding at the bottom of the pulleys, not the side in the "V".
A 1/16" inch can kill you here.

 

A rule of thumb is no more than a 3/4-inch deflection as measured in the middle of the belt between two pulleys. In fact, I do use my thumb.

 

Keith now is when, I come in and say look in your book-manual on belt tension specs & how to adjust it if you would have had one before hitting the panic button=posting here for "help".

Now if a belt starts getting squeaky after yrs of use, as they do here's how to fix it.

Move pulley if needed and use a wire wheels that fits into the groves and break the glaze from the sides where the belt makes contact. Do this all the way around to all pulleys.

If to much trouble for you then removing pulley belts then get a few Q-tips apply some acid all the way around belt v contact area. Then after a few minutes hose off.

What no acid! maybe some rust remover may work then place some 400-600 grit wet sand paper into groove grit face into v groove of pulley then apply the v belt on top of sand paper forcing it into the the v-groove. Now with a little water to aid in sanding start working the belt & sand paper all the way around until you break the glazed areas.

orich

 

Old school tensioner: A broom stick

 

Thanks Orich.

I completely deserve that. Hitting the "Panic Button" is exactly what I did. I really appreciate all the extremely helpful advice here and won't make the same mistake again.

"Iron Butterfly Gun truck"? I had never heard of that. It looks like a pretty mean truck.

Thanks for your service!!

Keith

 

Canadians do it right and use a hockey stick.

 

I just use my arm and pull about 100lbs on the alternator.

 

Calm down there, Schwarzenegger.

 

This thread brings back memories of the Bad Good Old Days of V-belts!

 

Hahahahahaha....