I just put on a new alt/wat belt and I had to take off all of the belts. Anyways I don't know how tight to make the belts. Does anyone have a rule of thumb or know how much play there should be in the belt? I did see one post where someone said to leave 1/4 of inch of play, is that right?

Thank you very much and God Bless,
Zach

 

I'm not exactly sure how much play to leave, but try to turn the pulley by hand. If you can turn it and the belt slips, it's too loose. But, also don't make the belt so tight that there's no flex. It'll snap. When it's on right, you should be able to turn the pulley and have it move the belt. At least, that's how I did it, and I haven't had any problems.

 

Hmm.. Ok i couldn't turn it... but i can't really turn it when its loosened either? which pulley are you talking about?

 

the water pump pulley

 

yes, 1/4 inch at the longest span is what I hear too, do not overtighten the belt, overtightening can put a lot of wear on the pulley bearings, like the alternator bearings. hey my name is zach too, actually zacky

 

ya.. the water pump pulley.. sorry for not specifying.

 

Ok.. Hey Zacky (never been called that) how hard should i pull it to messure a 1/4 because i am at like a .25 in right now but i pullyed pretty hard.

Godbless

 

I been meaning to ask about this. the haynes says half an inch of play is good and i have a half an inch of play but it makes a ticking noise while its running. I been wantign to tighten it some but been afraid of snapping it. Think i could tighten it till its quiet and leave it?

 

If it'll ease your mind, I don't really think it's an exact science.

I've been taught to take whatever belt it is you're tightening and at the point where it spans the GREATEST distance from pulley to pulley, you should be able to *twist* the belt about a quarter turn, not upside down, but halfway upside down. Does that make sense? Like pinch the belt and twist it a quarter turn onto it's "side".

 

Rule of thumb for tightening: RTFM

 

RTFM? Zacky is my persian name. I would do what the haynes manual says, i just remember hearing at advance on our advance tv that the belt should move 1/4"-1/2" inch at it's greatest span, you can only pull the belt so far.

 

I think it stands for

Read The ******* Manual. Its written somewhere (can't think of the exact book at the moment) and it tells you how to make sure you have proper tension on the belts.

 

All the manual tells you is that with 22lbs of force applied there should be .47"-.59" of deflection. Unless your elbow has been calibrated recently, that's not a very helpful measure, as the manual makes no suggestions(that I could find at least) as to actual procedures for applying 22lbs of force. This is probably overkill, but the last time I did a belt change I grabbed my 50lb spring scale, and had someone pull on it to 22lbs, while I measured the deflection

 

... Read The Factory Manual

I wouldn't be surprised if 75% of the questions asked on this forum could be answered by simply reading the manual. It amazes me how many people attempt to work on their car without the manual, as well as the number of people who think that the internet is more reliable than an official publication of the car's manufacturer.

^ Yes, use a pull scale if you like.

 

I usually just tighten it till it gives me a bit of resistence and the belt only moves about a 1/4 inch, then I run the engine and make sure the belt isnt flopping all over the place.

 

This method (described better then I could) I think is one of the best measures that anyone could do without the proper tools/measuring devices etc.

I have been doing it this way for 25+ years on all sorts of cars with never a problem. My grandfather showed it to me

100% accurate ? who knows. HAve I ever wrecked a belt or had any kind of failure...never.

So give it a try cause it is bout as accurate as you can get by feel.

 

I agree w/ ericseven & tiers. I was shown this method by my mechanic and have used it religiously since then. It's solid advice.

 

The FSM, series four, says the deflection for an ALTERNATOR belt should be b/t 0.55 to 0.67 in. Large fish scales work just fine.

 

Here's a much easlier solution. Haynes manual, page 46.