Question about removing belts...

[89square]

First off, i'm not the most experienced mechanic but I can figure out most of the basics ... this one has me stumped. My 89 R3500 has a 7.4 with AC and smog pump. My power steering pump decided to start leaking very bad so I wanted to replace this myself. I have to remove the belts to get the pump/pulley off and I figured i'd replace all three belts while i'm at it (Alt/Fan/Smog pump belt, Power Steering pump belt, and AC belt). I've replaced belts on some of my older jeeps no problem using a straight forward using the tension pulley. I cannot seem to locate a tension pulley on this truck! Am I blind or do I need to take a different approach to remove and install belts? My google-fu has failed me on this one.

Thanks!

 

[80BrownK10]

First off, i'm not the most experienced mechanic but I can figure out most of the basics ... this one has me stumped. My 89 R3500 has a 7.4 with AC and smog pump. My power steering pump decided to start leaking very bad so I wanted to replace this myself. I have to remove the belts to get the pump/pulley off and I figured i'd replace all three belts while i'm at it (Alt/Fan/Smog pump belt, Power Steering pump belt, and AC belt). I've replaced belts on some of my older jeeps no problem using a straight forward using the tension pulley. I cannot seem to locate a tension pulley on this truck! Am I blind or do I need to take a different approach to remove and install belts? My google-fu has failed me on this one.

Thanks!

I have no idea where the tensioner is on that truck but look at every pulley on it. They will either be the crank pulley or an accessory pulley an idler or tensioner pulley. Figure out the idlers and tensioners and one will have to move. I do not know this truck or engine it may not even have an idler pulley.

 

[Ricko1966]

First off, i'm not the most experienced mechanic but I can figure out most of the basics ... this one has me stumped. My 89 R3500 has a 7.4 with AC and smog pump. My power steering pump decided to start leaking very bad so I wanted to replace this myself. I have to remove the belts to get the pump/pulley off and I figured i'd replace all three belts while i'm at it (Alt/Fan/Smog pump belt, Power Steering pump belt, and AC belt). I've replaced belts on some of my older jeeps no problem using a straight forward using the tension pulley. I cannot seem to locate a tension pulley on this truck! Am I blind or do I need to take a different approach to remove and install belts? My google-fu has failed me on this one.

Thanks!

Okay no ones gonna like this, but you are not going to reuse the old belts, so buy your new belts use numbers off your old ones if possible.Draw a diagram as to how the belts are routed so no way you can get them on wrong. Now cut your belt slowly, while watching for the pulley that moves. I learned along time ago if I'm not reusing something, if it saves time to cut it off, break it, etc. that gets my job done sooner, and if you are working flat rate, time is money.

 

[Blue Ox]

I'm lost. Three belts, and you're looking for a tensioner? Is this serpentine or not? If it's not a serpentine belt then the tensioner is moving the accessory to loosen and tighten the belt on that accessory.

 

[89square]

I'm lost. Three belts, and you're looking for a tensioner? Is this serpentine or not? If it's not a serpentine belt then the tensioner is moving the accessory to loosen and tighten the belt on that accessory.

This is it! It seems so obvious now, but I've never had to deal with it before. Looks like I have to loosen the alternator to get that one off, and then the PS pump and the then the AC compressor. They each have a sliding adjustment bracket for adjusting the tension for each belt. I finally watched enough youtube videos last-night to figure it out ha!.

 

[Backfoot100]

The only tensioners you have on the V-Belts is an "Armstrong" tensioner (depends how strong your arms are). You do one at a time starting with the inner most one.

On things like the A/C compressor you'll have a 1/2" square drive hole for putting a 1/2" ratchet or breaker bar on it to put tension on it while snuggling up the bracket bolts.
On things like the alt. there's usually an oval hole in the bracket that you can use to get a pry bar into to lever against the alt. to tension the belts.
The PS pump is purely being creative with a pry bar between the frame and the pump brackets somehow.

Sometimes you need to use a little creative thinking and imagination to figure that **** out. That's how its done old school.

 

[89square]

Okay no ones gonna like this, but you are not going to reuse the old belts, so buy your new belts use numbers off your old ones if possible.Draw a diagram as to how the belts are routed so no way you can get them on wrong. Now cut your belt slowly, while watching for the pulley that moves. I learned along time ago if I'm not reusing something, if it saves time to cut it off, break it, etc. that gets my job done sooner, and if you are working flat rate, time is money.

Definitely going to replace all of them all if I have to take them off anyways to do the power steering pump. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Ricko1966]

I'm lost. Three belts, and you're looking for a tensioner? Is this serpentine or not? If it's not a serpentine belt then the tensioner is moving the accessory to loosen and tighten the belt on that accessory.

Good catch sir. The way this thread started I assumed the truck had serp belts on it. Man how times change people used to be confused by serp belt routing and tensioners. Now v belts are the odd duck.

 

[Blue Ox]

Good catch sir. The way this thread started I assumed the truck had serp belts on it. Man how times change people used to be confused by seep belt routing and tensioners. Now v belts are the odd duck.

It kind of struck me the same way. Must be getting old.

 

[idahovette]

Okay no ones gonna like this, but you are not going to reuse the old belts, so buy your new belts use numbers off your old ones if possible.Draw a diagram as to how the belts are routed so no way you can get them on wrong. Now cut your belt slowly, while watching for the pulley that moves. I learned along time ago if I'm not reusing something, if it saves time to cut it off, break it, etc. that gets my job done sooner, and if you are working flat rate, time is money.

In my area (small town) I would NEVER cut off the old belts until I was sure they were available at my ONE parts store and had them in hand!!!!........time is money and sitting around til i get the belts ain't gonna cut it!!!!!!!

 

[Ricko1966]

In my area (small town) I would NEVER cut off the old belts until I was sure they were available at my ONE parts store and had them in hand!!!!........time is money and sitting around til i get the belts ain't gonna cut it!!!!!!!

That's why I started it with buy your new belts. Also why I said use the numbers off the old ones if possible.

 

[Blue Ox]

In my area (small town) I would NEVER cut off the old belts until I was sure they were available at my ONE parts store and had them in hand!!!!........time is money and sitting around til i get the belts ain't gonna cut it!!!!!!!

Regardless of where you live I wouldn't cripple the vehicle until I had replacement parts in hand and knew they were correct. I don't necessarily disagree with cutting them, especially if you're trying to make time. But for my purposes unless the old belts are compromised I keep the most recent set in the truck as spares. This has saved my bacon a time or two.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Yep, don't cut them, save them as spares when the new ones are installed.

 

[Ricko1966]

Everyone is forgetting the part where I said watch for the pulley to move.This is also when we were assuming the truck had a serp belt, because he was trying to locate the tensioner.Cutting the belt slowly while watching for the pulley to move was to help him locate his tensioner.

 

[idahovette]

In the very first post, he said he wanted to replace all THREE BELTS. Never have seen a 3 belt serp system.....sometimes reading can be such a bitch!!!