Well I spent days attempting to rule out which pulley is bad. After putting on a tension pulley, alternator, and water pump, it's now obvious that that the smog pump pulley is bad. At this point, I don't want spend anymore money. So I need a belt size that would bypass the smog pump. Do anyone know ?

Thanks

 

Are you sure it's not a belt that you're hearing?

I replaced the serpentine belt on my 92 F150 w/351 because of squealing. It wasn't until after I put a new belt on it that I found out I needed to get the glazing off of the pulleys BEFORE you install the new belt....after two weeks, the squealing is back and I'm told it's too late, to eliminate the noise I have to replace this new belt...but only after cleaning the pulleys!

 

Does your state have an anual state safety/smog inspection. The truck would be rejected for that in in MA.

 

I live in Pa, but there are always ways to get around. That is the least of my worries. I just need a belt size so I can get around this issue.

 

Others on here have said to use a piece of string or cut the old belt and use it to get a new measurement. None of the posts I saw ever said what size they used to replace. Maybe someone that has can tell you what they used.
Good Luck

 

thank you. Again, if anyone has those measurements, please let me know

 

The measurements vary for each engine and pulley combination. I've always done the string measuring method. I've found it's best to get a couple of belts in the next smaller sizes than the string measures and try each of them until you find the one that fits best. Don't run the motor or you won't be able to return the unused belts.

 

MSGTG
Can you post details about de-glazing the pulleys? I just bought a new serpentine, but haven't installed it yet.
Do you de-glaze the v-groove pulleys as well? The smooth pulleys would be easy enough with emmery cloth, but how to de-glaze the v-grooves?
(maybe it's in my Haynes - haven't looked and don't have it with me)

 

I was told that you have to fold the emery cloth into a v to get into the grooves.

I was told that I didn't have to apply a lot of pressure...nor was I to try and remove all of the glaze. He told me to 'break' the glaze so that the belt gets a good grip.

 

Thanks msgtg.

 

I emailed Gates, and their recommended pulley-cleaning procedure is using an alcohol based brake cleaner and a soft bristled brush, either plastic or brass. Dont use a steel brush because this could scratch and damage the pulleys.

 

Maybe I'm missing it, but I can't tell what engine/equipment you have. That would make a big difference.

Anyway, mine is a '95 F-150 with 351w, PS, AC, and a 102" belt OEM.

I put on a 94.5" belt (the closest I could find to what I needed). I determined the needed length by winding a flexible steel tape around the pulleys minus & bypassing the smog pump. That belt worked great until it got extremely cold, when it tended to hop off when the truck was first started. So I installed a 90mm Gates tensioner pulley (pulley only, not the whole tensioner assembly) in place of the OEM 76mm pulley. That solved it and have had no problems (either belt-wise or driveability) with this setup.

By the way, belt numbers usually tell how long they are, i.e. my original was a 102K6 (102" long, 6 rib) & I replaced it with a 945K6 (94.5" long, 6 rib). Other makes are numbered similar. They seem to come in 1/2" sizes only. For mine, a 94" was way too short, & a 95" got lost on it.

Good luck. Also, you can leave the pump on the engine if you need to re-hook it to pass emissions. The re-route will not touch the smog pump pulley.

 

wrenched...let me know if you try the cleaner/brush method. First time I've heard of that one.

 

Get a gatorback belt too.

They rarely squeel. Mine occasionally does on the alternator when it gets wet.

I didn't do anythingwith my idle or tension pully for cleaning it.
But then, i dont have a clue what you guys are talking about with deglazeing.

 

William, deglazing is just breaking up the shine on the worn surface of the pully so the belt grips a little better.
But if you get too ambitious, it causes wear problems.

I use brake cleaner and a small brass brush. The plastic brushes don't seem to work as well.
Just an observation, DON"T use carb cleaner on a plastic pully. You can turn your plastic pully into a gummy mess if you over do it...