Loose Belts
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Jacksonville FL
Loose Belts
Having a hard time keeping belts tight. Looked at my Haynes manual and it didnt help me at all because I dont have an AC compressor or smog pump.
I have 1 belt going from crank to alternator and another belt going from crank to water pump and powersteering. Thats all..
Do all trucks with no smog and AC have the belts ran like this?
Is there supposed to be a tensioner? Becasue I dont have one meaning its very hard to tighten the belts.
I have 1 belt going from crank to alternator and another belt going from crank to water pump and powersteering. Thats all..
Do all trucks with no smog and AC have the belts ran like this?
Is there supposed to be a tensioner? Becasue I dont have one meaning its very hard to tighten the belts.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 38
From: EXTREME southwest CT
V belts don't typically have a tensioner.
Both of these accessories are mounted with a pivot bolt and a clamp or pinch bolt.
Loosen the mounting and shift the pump or alternator over with a prybar (or in the case of the pump it may have a 1/2" square hole for a breaker bar) then retighten the mounting bolts while maintaining tension.
Shoot for being able to move the belt about 3/4" in the middle of the longest run.
Don't over tension of you will kill the bearings or waterpump.
Hope this helps.
Both of these accessories are mounted with a pivot bolt and a clamp or pinch bolt.
Loosen the mounting and shift the pump or alternator over with a prybar (or in the case of the pump it may have a 1/2" square hole for a breaker bar) then retighten the mounting bolts while maintaining tension.
Shoot for being able to move the belt about 3/4" in the middle of the longest run.
Don't over tension of you will kill the bearings or waterpump.
Hope this helps.
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Jacksonville FL
Originally Posted by 86F150302
With the alternator I couldnt really find a good place to pry it to tighten the belt. The only problem im having with them being loose is squeaking with I start it.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 38
From: EXTREME southwest CT
If it's a "squeaking", I'd say some bearing is already shot. If it's a squeal it could be that the belt is loose or glazed.
Yeah, that turnbuckle setup sure is nice but......$
Did you try from underneath?
Yeah, that turnbuckle setup sure is nice but......$
Did you try from underneath?
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Jacksonville FL
Originally Posted by gilllawn
Use belt dressing.
IT just "squeals" for a few seconds when I crank it then gos away. No I havent tryed from underneath.
thanks for telling me what the proper name was of the turnbuckle
It would make tightening a whole lot easier lol
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
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You might need new belts, because if they are glazed over, it will need to be rediculously tight to not squeal
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From: Martinsburg, WV
also if you look, it appears you are missing a alternator belt as well, it has a dual pully setup for extra grip on the system. You will need a small prybar or large screwdriver to tighten the alternator, also a second set of hands helps alot. From what I can see in the pics, the belts do need to be replaced.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Asheville, NC
My '83 with a 351W had an air pump installed just above the alternator. Its drive belt ran off of the outer alternator pulley groove.
There is only one belt driving the alternator on mine. I have some 6 cylinder versions that used 2 belts. Yours looks like it could use 2 belts. If you go this route, get a matched pair of belts for it.
It seems that the single belt on my V8 alternator set-up needs to be really tight anyway. Mine used to squeal at higher RPM's too.
There is only one belt driving the alternator on mine. I have some 6 cylinder versions that used 2 belts. Yours looks like it could use 2 belts. If you go this route, get a matched pair of belts for it.
It seems that the single belt on my V8 alternator set-up needs to be really tight anyway. Mine used to squeal at higher RPM's too.
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Jacksonville FL
Originally Posted by Holmesuser01
My '83 with a 351W had an air pump installed just above the alternator. Its drive belt ran off of the outer alternator pulley groove.
There is only one belt driving the alternator on mine. I have some 6 cylinder versions that used 2 belts. Yours looks like it could use 2 belts. If you go this route, get a matched pair of belts for it.
It seems that the single belt on my V8 alternator set-up needs to be really tight anyway. Mine used to squeal at higher RPM's too.
There is only one belt driving the alternator on mine. I have some 6 cylinder versions that used 2 belts. Yours looks like it could use 2 belts. If you go this route, get a matched pair of belts for it.
It seems that the single belt on my V8 alternator set-up needs to be really tight anyway. Mine used to squeal at higher RPM's too.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Hawkeye Country
The fan shouldn't need to come off to get to the power steering belt.
On my 86 and 82 the power steering pump has a square hole in the top right corner. I use a 3/4 inch breaker bar with a 3 foot section of exhaust pipe slid over it. Yank down on the pipe and tighten the bolts.
For the alternator I lay under the truck and use a 3 foot pry bar between the alt and engine block. I slide the pry bar between the alt and engine and push, I push the bar away from myself. With my other hand I tighten the alt bolts from under the truck.
I believe the old rule of thumb was half a inch of deflection, or give, for every foot of belt.
I get my belts very tight using the method I mentioned above. I have no squeaks from idle to 5000+ rpms.
On my 86 and 82 the power steering pump has a square hole in the top right corner. I use a 3/4 inch breaker bar with a 3 foot section of exhaust pipe slid over it. Yank down on the pipe and tighten the bolts.
For the alternator I lay under the truck and use a 3 foot pry bar between the alt and engine block. I slide the pry bar between the alt and engine and push, I push the bar away from myself. With my other hand I tighten the alt bolts from under the truck.
I believe the old rule of thumb was half a inch of deflection, or give, for every foot of belt.
I get my belts very tight using the method I mentioned above. I have no squeaks from idle to 5000+ rpms.
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville FL
Originally Posted by jimbo beam
The fan shouldn't need to come off to get to the power steering belt.
On my 86 and 82 the power steering pump has a square hole in the top right corner. I use a 3/4 inch breaker bar with a 3 foot section of exhaust pipe slid over it. Yank down on the pipe and tighten the bolts.
For the alternator I lay under the truck and use a 3 foot pry bar between the alt and engine block. I slide the pry bar between the alt and engine and push, I push the bar away from myself. With my other hand I tighten the alt bolts from under the truck.
I believe the old rule of thumb was half a inch of deflection, or give, for every foot of belt.
I get my belts very tight using the method I mentioned above. I have no squeaks from idle to 5000+ rpms.
On my 86 and 82 the power steering pump has a square hole in the top right corner. I use a 3/4 inch breaker bar with a 3 foot section of exhaust pipe slid over it. Yank down on the pipe and tighten the bolts.
For the alternator I lay under the truck and use a 3 foot pry bar between the alt and engine block. I slide the pry bar between the alt and engine and push, I push the bar away from myself. With my other hand I tighten the alt bolts from under the truck.
I believe the old rule of thumb was half a inch of deflection, or give, for every foot of belt.
I get my belts very tight using the method I mentioned above. I have no squeaks from idle to 5000+ rpms.
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