Pineapple Racing Idler pulley Failure
06-24-15, 09:57 PM
#1
Pineapple Racing Idler pulley Failure
My Pineapple Racing idler pulley failed after 4,000 miles, looks like they used a cheap set of bearings that where rated for half the rpm than what is needed with a 8,000rpm redline. The bearings completely locked up and left me stranded today, tried to reach them multiple times through out the day with no answer on there end.
06-27-15, 03:43 AM
#4
Sometimes bad parts make it through QC. If your first thought is belt tightness on what appears to be a double bearing idler... well... I'm very skeptical of that conclusion (why didn't the wp or alt go then?). My first thought was insufficient lube from the factory; something happening more and more as costs/corners are cut.
I doubt this thread would have been posted if someone would have picked up the phone.
I doubt this thread would have been posted if someone would have picked up the phone.
06-27-15, 08:22 AM
#5
Yep, belt tension was fine and had .4" of defection on a new belt which should be lower than stock. On the first test drive, (15 to 20 full boost 8,000 rpm pulls) I noticed grease all over my turbo and figured it was just excess get pushed out. When I pulled these off after failure they had zero grease in them. In the time that it failed it had done around 3,000 red line pulls and a good number of them where sustained at rev limit during drifting and autocross. Booth bearings have failed, this is not a bearing problem it is a seal problem.
Last edited by kevinbtz; 06-27-15 at 08:32 AM.
06-30-15, 10:16 AM
#6
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Yep, belt tension was fine and had .4" of defection on a new belt which should be lower than stock. On the first test drive, (15 to 20 full boost 8,000 rpm pulls) I noticed grease all over my turbo and figured it was just excess get pushed out. When I pulled these off after failure they had zero grease in them. In the time that it failed it had done around 3,000 red line pulls and a good number of them where sustained at rev limit during drifting and autocross. Booth bearings have failed, this is not a bearing problem it is a seal problem.
It's the high rpm
Drive these idlers hard and they fall apart. Fortunately it didn't happen while you were at the track etc.....
If I was you I'd get your new one from Pineapple and promptly sell it to someone who likes adding things to their car for cough cough reliability reasons LOL
Don't use them and don't recommend them. There is plenty of tension with a stock under drive. I've been tracking my car hard for 10 years with stock wp, stock underdrive and greddy style water pump/alt pulley's. When you start to hear a squeal that goes away quickly after start up there is a good chance you a need a new belt or water pump pulley is worn so replace one or both and keep on revving.
Bottomline: An aftermarket water pump or water pump idler pulley's are not parts anyone needs
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cr-rex (02-07-22)
07-07-15, 10:11 AM
#7
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11-18-15, 12:33 PM
#16
I've got the pulley... and Have Swapped the bearing twice so far. And Guess what?....I started the car yesterday with the "New" advised to use bearing and heard that Defening horrifyingly loud squeeling. I've heard people using it without issue.. And I'd like to think i pay particular attention to how much tension is on my belts and make sure that it's never too much... but I threw in the towel and already have a Full Function Engineering Pulley ON the way. It uses the OE idler pump bearing with a custom machined pulley around it so that your really getting a solid bearing. Kit looks freakin excellent! pics to come!
02-20-16, 10:45 PM
#19
Pinapple Racing Idler pulley Failure
Had mine on for about a little over a month and did an autox.. seems ok so far. . I'm just happy they made a big turbo version or else it wouldn't fit, like others who make theirs ( not bagging just saying other brands wouldn't of fit otherwise.)
Last edited by FD3S2005; 02-20-16 at 10:48 PM.
04-25-16, 02:22 PM
#20
I spoke to Rob this weekend about the bearing issue. When the pulley kits were designed he worked with the bearing manufacture to spec the size and rating of the bearings per the application engineers recommendations. While the majority of users don't seem to have an issue, he is working with the bearing manufacture to see if there is a slightly different bearing that may be better suited to the increased loads that possible over tightening of the belts can cause. As a reminder, there are new install instructions available and he is happy to warranty any kits- just shoot him an email sales@pineappleracing.com.
On a side note- I removed his first prototype pulley kit from a customers car a few weeks ago- over 8 years with no issues. He traded it out for a new kit, just so he could hold on to the original.
On a side note- I removed his first prototype pulley kit from a customers car a few weeks ago- over 8 years with no issues. He traded it out for a new kit, just so he could hold on to the original.
05-18-16, 10:09 AM
#23
He's definitely still around. I live a mile from his shop and stop in regularly. He's essentially a one man shop. This includes rebuilds, machining, and customer service, so it may be hard to get a hold of him by phone. Email is the best bet if you're not in the area.
