Pulley & Belt Alignment Question...

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Dec 7, 2004 | 08:00 AM

jmbatlanta

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From: Lilburn, GA

Pulley & Belt Alignment Question...

The past couple of days I have heard a squealing noise from what I think is the belt. Upon inspection, looking from the side, it appears the tensioner is cocked towards the front of the truck. It is definently not in line with the rest of the pulleys. As for the squeal, it is very wet here today and once the truck was running the squeal stopped.

I am thinking the squeal may be a result of moisture and this is normal - is this correct? and the unaligned tensioner is a problem even though the belt travels fine.

Historically, is the tensioner a problem and what is the best way to fix an out of aligned tensioner if it is indeed a problem?

Dec 7, 2004 | 08:10 AM

Kwikkordead

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jun 2004

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From: Rio Rico, AZ.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmbatlanta

Get that tensioner assembly replaced before it tears away and really causes some damage.
The squeal is caused by the belt being dragged at an angle across the pulley. Same principle as a car doing a 4 wheel drift=tires squealing, making LOTS of HEAT.

Last edited by Kwikkordead; Dec 7, 2004 at 08:12 AM.

Dec 7, 2004 | 08:14 AM

fedextech

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replace the tensioner and the belt. the tensioner has failed and when it runs at angle like that, it will cause undue stress on the belt and the belt will fail. the belt squeal is from the tensioner not doing it's job.

Dec 7, 2004 | 08:19 AM

Spaznaut

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2004

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From: NE Tennessee

Yeah get that fixed. I left mine alone after I saw that one rib had jumped on an 8 rib belt. That rib flew apart and took out the wiring on my electric fans. Always happpens at worse times and places.

Moral

on't let something small turn into something big.

Dec 7, 2004 | 09:09 AM

jmbatlanta

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From: Lilburn, GA

Thanks for the help guys. Is it o.k. to stay with the Ford OEM or is there a better alternative? I know I can change the belt but is the tensioner something I can do myself?

Dec 7, 2004 | 10:52 AM

Spaznaut

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From: NE Tennessee

Think it has one bolt with a guide nipple to keep it from turning in place? Should be fairly easy.

Dec 7, 2004 | 09:41 PM

jmbatlanta

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From: Lilburn, GA

Job done! $107 for belt tensioner and new belt from NAPA. Had to buy some torx drives but once I had these the job took about 30 minutes. Had to loosen the lower pulley to get the old tensioner out. Once out, the old tensioner was full of what appeared to be carbon - it was definently gone. New one is on and doing it's job - biggest thing is that it is perfectly in line with the rest of the puleys. Hopefully I averted a catastrophic failure by getting this done now. No more squeal...

The old belt is in the truck as a spare...

Thanks for all of the help.

Jim