2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

Dual Alternator pulley: 1 belt tight , 1 belt loose, is this bad ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-15-05, 07:57 PM
  #1  
Rotary Power

Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
wthdidusay82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Dinwiddie, Va
Posts: 3,706
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Dual Alternator pulley: 1 belt tight , 1 belt loose, is this bad ?

I put on my dual alternator pulley today along with all the belts and no matter which way i put the belts one belt comes out tighter than the other.

one being loose and one being tight, and this is with the alternator as high up on the bracket as i can pull it and its still tight on one and loose on the other even when i swap the belts
Old 06-15-05, 08:04 PM
  #2  
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Icemark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
the belts should be set to factory deflection. if one is tighter than another, you defeat the use of a dual belt set up. Are you using two new belts of the same exact brand and model???

and you should not be tightening "high up on the bracket as i can pull it ". That is a quick way to burn out the bearings in the alt and water pump.
Old 06-15-05, 08:09 PM
  #3  
Rotary Power

Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
wthdidusay82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Dinwiddie, Va
Posts: 3,706
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
[QUOTE=Icemark]the belts should be set to factory deflection. if one is tighter than another, you defeat the use of a dual belt set up. Are you using two new belts of the same exact brand and model???

yes they are both the same belts brand new from mazdatrix.com i checked the lengths and they are the same

and you should not be tightening "high up on the bracket as i can pull it ". That is a quick way to burn out the bearings in the alt and water pump.

if i dont pull it as tight as i can the looser belt will be so loose that it will fall off while the other is still on

maybe i have the spacer on the alternator in the wrong place ? is it suppose to be in the back or in the front ? i have no idea what the problem is but i changed where the spacer was before because the alternator/belts looked they were too far up with the spacer on the front

Last edited by wthdidusay82; 06-15-05 at 08:12 PM.
Old 06-15-05, 08:13 PM
  #4  
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Icemark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
If the belts really are the same length size and age, then your dual belt pully is probably not the same size on both. who's dual belt pully are you using???
Old 06-15-05, 08:16 PM
  #5  
Alcohol Fueled!

iTrader: (2)
 
J-Rat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Hood River oregon
Posts: 11,093
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I noticed a SLIGHT variation in the HiggiTrix pulley, but its not enough to make any large difference. Could be variation in the Belts, but I run the exact belt. Dual Gatorbacks..
Old 06-15-05, 08:17 PM
  #6  
Older than Dirt

 
Mr. Gadget's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 1,448
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
did you buy a "matched set" one where the two belts are attached tied or secured together forom the manufacturer If its not a true matched set you run risk of differences from batch to batch.
Old 06-15-05, 08:25 PM
  #7  
Rotary Power

Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
wthdidusay82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Dinwiddie, Va
Posts: 3,706
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
i think i may need to buy new belts because evenwhen i switch the belt the belt that was loose and the belt that was tight is still tight/loose even on the opposite end of the pulley so i think it must be the belts but i think i should be getting my money back from mazdatrix.com for giving me 2 different size belts
Old 06-15-05, 08:26 PM
  #8  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (17)
 
Stevan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Jax, FL.
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I think it's the alignment of the alt., 2 bolts can't hold it straight.
Take the ac compressor for example, it's got bolts fore and aft.
It's kind'of designed for one belt(the alt).
I have the dual, and have the same problem after a few miles.

Last edited by Stevan; 06-15-05 at 08:31 PM.
Old 06-15-05, 08:29 PM
  #9  
Rotary Power

Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
wthdidusay82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Dinwiddie, Va
Posts: 3,706
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Icemark
If the belts really are the same length size and age, then your dual belt pully is probably not the same size on both. who's dual belt pully are you using???
banzaitoyota , rotaryinnovation.com

i believe it may be the belts , but by look of eye inspecting them they appear to be the same length but when on the car one is always loose no matter what side its on , and one is tight no matter what side its on .. so it must be the belts but why are there two belts that are truly identical ?
Old 06-15-05, 08:32 PM
  #10  
Rotary Power

Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
wthdidusay82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Dinwiddie, Va
Posts: 3,706
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Mr. Gadget
did you buy a "matched set" one where the two belts are attached tied or secured together forom the manufacturer If its not a true matched set you run risk of differences from batch to batch.
i think this is my problem right here but where can i get two belts that are an exact matched pair
Old 06-15-05, 08:32 PM
  #11  
Koala Bear

 
MRX_Rotary's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Clemson, SC
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by J-Rat
I noticed a SLIGHT variation in the HiggiTrix pulley, but its not enough to make any large difference. Could be variation in the Belts, but I run the exact belt. Dual Gatorbacks..


I ran the Higgi dual belt pulley and two gatorbacks and one was slightly looser. Like you said it's probably variations in the belt. Normally cars don't have to run dual belt pullies, so I imagine they don't have to manufacture the belts within exact specs. As long as it is close, since they initially stretch anyways. But the slight variations didn't matter much since the tighter belt soon stretched to the same length of the looser belt. Besides, fault in the pulley would be unlikely since it is CNC machined, IIRC, and those are accurate within one ten thousandth of an inch, or something stupid like that. So yeah...
Old 06-15-05, 08:34 PM
  #12  
Rotary Power

Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
wthdidusay82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Dinwiddie, Va
Posts: 3,706
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by MRX_Rotary


I ran the Higgi dual belt pulley and two gatorbacks and one was slightly looser. Like you said it's probably variations in the belt. Normally cars don't have to run dual belt pullies, so I imagine they don't have to manufacture the belts within exact specs. As long as it is close, since they initially stretch anyways. But the slight variations didn't matter much since the tighter belt soon stretched to the same length of the looser belt. Besides, fault in the pulley would be unlikely since it is CNC machined, IIRC, and those are accurate within one ten thousandth of an inch, or something stupid like that. So yeah...
we're not talkingslightly loose we're talkin there is a big difference one is tight to the max tightness and the other is still loose
Old 06-15-05, 08:52 PM
  #13  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (17)
 
Stevan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Jax, FL.
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Is the loose one always closest to the engine, or opposite?, if it changes back and forth when you switch the belts then its the belts, if not, ^.
Old 06-15-05, 08:58 PM
  #14  
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Icemark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
Originally Posted by wtfdidusay82
banzaitoyota , rotaryinnovation.com

i believe it may be the belts , but by look of eye inspecting them they appear to be the same length but when on the car one is always loose no matter what side its on , and one is tight no matter what side its on .. so it must be the belts but why are there two belts that are truly identical ?
I have never heard of Banzaitoyota's ones ever having problems. I have to think it is either alt alignment or belts.
Old 06-15-05, 09:07 PM
  #15  
Older than Dirt

 
Mr. Gadget's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 1,448
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by wtfdidusay82
i think this is my problem right here but where can i get two belts that are an exact matched pair
just go to almost any parts store. if they dont have them they can order. A matched set is two belts cut side by side off the same lot. I prefer gates belts.
Old 06-15-05, 09:19 PM
  #16  
Locust of the apocalypse

 
YearsOfDecay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Directly above the center of the earth (York, PA)
Posts: 2,553
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by wtfdidusay82
I put on my dual alternator pulley today along with all the belts and no matter which way i put the belts one belt comes out tighter than the other.

one being loose and one being tight, and this is with the alternator as high up on the bracket as i can pull it and its still tight on one and loose on the other even when i swap the belts

I had this same problem with the FD alt I got from silverrotor.... after a while, I eyballed the pulley real close... the front sheve was about 1/8 of an inch deeper than the rear..... hence... looser belt.........

I ripped that POS off and got a HIGGI dual pulley and its all kosher now..

After a new set of belts that is....
Old 06-15-05, 10:49 PM
  #17  
re-amemiya body vert

iTrader: (2)
 
Flash's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I had the same problem, but it wasn't the pulley. I had to go back to the part store and compare five different belts to find 2 that were the same. As someone else said, dual pulley applications aren't considered when your generic part manufacturer produces a belt.
Old 06-16-05, 10:02 AM
  #18  
Older than Dirt

 
Mr. Gadget's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 1,448
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by YearsOfDecay
I had this same problem with the FD alt I got from silverrotor.... after a while, I eyballed the pulley real close... the front sheve was about 1/8 of an inch deeper than the rear..... hence... looser belt.........

I ripped that POS off and got a HIGGI dual pulley and its all kosher now..

After a new set of belts that is....
thats one hell of a set of eyeballs you have there. I have a silverrotor and it was fine. I installed a higgi for looks.
Old 06-16-05, 10:07 AM
  #19  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
MichaelFregoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: VERY upstate NY
Posts: 446
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Mr. Gadget
did you buy a "matched set" one where the two belts are attached tied or secured together forom the manufacturer If its not a true matched set you run risk of differences from batch to batch.
Exactly.... I went to NAPA and told them I was using a duel pulley system and they matched them for me. (same batch)

No issues whatsoever going on 2 years
Old 06-16-05, 10:24 AM
  #20  
spending too much money..

iTrader: (2)
 
hondahater's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: louisiana
Posts: 10,117
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I have a banzai toyota one and it is fine. I had the same problem as you when I bought the same belts with same part number and same manufacturer. I used them both but one being more loose ended up comming of and the other belt broke so I said let me try another brand and sure enough at autozone they gave me two of the same belts and they both fit perfect.
Old 06-16-05, 02:57 PM
  #21  
Rotary Power

Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
wthdidusay82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Dinwiddie, Va
Posts: 3,706
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Mr. Gadget
just go to almost any parts store. if they dont have them they can order. A matched set is two belts cut side by side off the same lot. I prefer gates belts.
bought some gates belts from carquest today and the problem has been solved, goodlookin on the gates belts they costed my 19 dollars and change with tax

ill add to your rep for givingsome good advice on which belts to choose, i also called a few parts stores and they also recommended gates belts
Old 06-16-05, 06:19 PM
  #22  
What Subscription?

 
banzaitoyota's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Aiken SC USA
Posts: 5,926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Maunufacturing Tolerences are a bitch these days. I am going to go over to the GATES Factory here in my town (Yep I am lucky to have one) and see about getting some "matched" sets of belts.

Now if they make this style belt at the plant here in town
Old 06-16-05, 06:26 PM
  #23  
spending too much money..

iTrader: (2)
 
hondahater's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: louisiana
Posts: 10,117
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
yes please! Start selling them and I will buy them because I think I just got lucky that my two I just bought where the same size.
Old 06-16-05, 06:58 PM
  #24  
What Subscription?

 
banzaitoyota's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Aiken SC USA
Posts: 5,926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
a lot of ifs. Will they sell to me, do they make that style and size belt there, etc. I'll try
Old 06-17-05, 12:20 PM
  #25  
Rotary Freak

 
91mazdarx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: pennsylvania
Posts: 1,572
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i have a question of my own about dual alt pullies is it alright to have a dual alt pulley and only use 1 belt on it because im still running with my airpump but with my new exhaust i dont think ill be using my airpump with it so ill be able to use 2 belts then but i want to keep my airpump in just for emmisions then switch back to dual belts


Quick Reply: Dual Alternator pulley: 1 belt tight , 1 belt loose, is this bad ?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:35 AM.