When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
We bought a 1991 F-350 crew cab truck 7.3 diesel. The guy said you had to watch the Alternator belt or it would get to flapping and then come off knocking of some or all the other belts. Well he is right it does this fairly quick and with out a lot of warning. Has this group seen this before and is there a suspect part. I have a new Pulley for the Alternator just hadn't had time to get it on there. The vp runs off the alt on this truck could the vp be causing to much load on the alt knocking off the belt. I also noticed that the vp has a pulley made for a half inch belt and the alt pulley groove that drives the vp is made to accept a 3/8 belt. The pulley I got has both grooves set up for 1/2. The parts houses all want to sell you a 3/8 belt for this but I picked up a 1/2 belt the right length and intended to go back with it. Any thoughs would be appreciated.
there's a lot of distance between the alt and the crank, and I think that's what gets to them/ I want to build a bracket to put a serpentine or such flat pulley there to take up some of the slop so it doesn't move so much.
Buying a good heavy duty belt will help a lot also. Ask for the best belt they have.
If you are ever going down a hill loaded when it flops off you will see why this is not an area to pinch pennies in.
Fellro86 I think you are right. After putting this back togather this evening with a new Gates belt. I can see the bottom side gets to vibrating every once in while. I will retension tommorow per the manual and see if it helps. I have a few 1/2 inch belt idler pulleys off some older Fords and I think an idler in the middle of this long distance would definitely help.
Just curious but did the 94 IDIs come with a serp system? I have never had an alt belt come off but they do flop around a bit, I have cranked it tight with a prybar on the alt, but it still flops, the idler idea sounds good too though.
Just an update I fabed an idler pulley postioned it close to the center of the belt on the botton side. This seemed to take the flop out. No Issues since mid last week.