still cant figure out steering belt tensioner

hey guys,

i keep having to adjust my steering belt tensioner becuase it wont stay in place. Someone mentioned that you have to loosen the nut and then tighten the bolt, but i dont see a nut on that bolt. i see the top of the bolt then theres like a washer that looks welded on right below it, way farther down the bolt it looks like there may be a nut but theres not way i can reach that without taking the whole belt and pulley off. do you guys just mean loosen the nut holding the pulley? thanks

[rbalach]

I think they mean the nut that is at the center of the tensioner pulley. Loosen that first, adjust the bolt until you get the right tension on the belt. The tighten the nut. I have tried to attach a picture, not sure if it worked.

[Conn SVX]

thanks that's probably why my p steering new belt is squeeeeeeeling and not charging the battery.

hey guys,

i figured it out, thanks for the advice!

Chris

[CigarJohnny]

Originally Posted by rbalach

I think they mean the nut that is at the center of the tensioner pulley. Loosen that first, adjust the bolt until you get the right tension on the belt. The tighten the nut. I have tried to attach a picture, not sure if it worked.

Nice pic! That helps me out as well. I adjusted the long bolt but did not realise that the bolt on the pulley needed to be loosened and retightened before and after adjusting. My steering squeels also but my previous adjustment did not quiet it down for long. I will try this tonight maybe.

Johnny

I am Having the same Issue with my steering belt. My Mechanic says the one thing you can't do is get a "cheap" belt. This after I spent the $20.00 on some cheap Kragen belt... now he tells me ...as I go in every 40-50 days to have it tightened.

I will have mine replaced with his reccomendation, in a week or two, just was waiting for the 110k service to come up.

[dcarrb]

That is a good photo.

To clarify, the "bolt" in the photo ONLY adjusts the travel of the idler pulley. Loosen the nut on the pulley, adjust the pulley (by turning the "bolt") until the belt is properly tensioned, then tighten the pulley nut. Check it after a few miles and again in a few days, but if it squeals and/or requires frequent adjustment, something's wrong.

dcb

[Treppiede]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

To clarify, the "bolt" in the photo ONLY adjusts the travel of the idler pulley.

...and is threaded upside down. In other words, to tighten the belt (slide pulley towards the bottom) you need to turn the bolt ClockWise. To loosen the belt (slide pulley upwards - towards you) you need to turn the bolt CounterClockWise.

May sound like a silly advice but that drove me crazy for a good 10-15 minutes the first time...

Walter

[dcarrb]

No master mechanic here, but I have changed SVX belts, and it occurred to me: How in the world anybody could get a new belt on without loosening that pulley nut?

dcb

[Treppiede]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

How in the world anybody could get a new belt on without loosening that pulley nut?

Eheheh... step into the engine bay stretch it like a mofo.

Walter