Rookie mistakes, as usual. Help?
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,984
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From: Montana
This is exactly why I just tightened my belts. I put a deflection meter on them and they were all pretty loose, had stretched a bit after being recently installed. Besides being annoying I think it’ll premature wear the belts and I also have a sneaking suspicion that you can get some slip under hard 1st gear acceleration (when you need that fan spinning the most) but you won’t hear it due to engine roar.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,984
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From: Montana
I get the outer pulley slightly snugged down, then rotate the engine/fan a couple of times by hand to settle the belt in. Then I go around the three bolts tightening each a half-turn or so at a time, while rotating the fan/belt by hand. There isn't a torque setting for the three nuts, you have to do it by feel -- you will feel when they're equally snug and the pulley is square, and you will see/feel when the pulley is cockeyed or when one of nuts is looser than the others. As for belt tension, set it so there's no squeal or slippage, but no tighter. When you're done, fire up the engine and watch the pulley for squareness. Then shut it off and check tension again.
Pic stolen from Pelican:
Pic stolen from Pelican:
Do you need to worry about shimming the inner pulley face into the correct location to line up with the bottom, or is this not an issue?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 477
Likes: 3
From: Central, NJ
FYI Original Poster.....I keep a spare set of OEM belts on the car always. I have a updated electronic DME solenoid that controls the fuel pump and keep the old one in my tool bag. If you ever breakdown again no one will have these belts in stock.
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From: NC
To simplify things a bit, I'm considering going with the RS pulley to combine the fan and alternator belts but understand there are some concerns with the alternator being under-charged with this setup. I don't track the car, but it's not a daily driver either. When it goes out, it's typically for a fun drive. Sitting at idle in traffic is always a possibility, but not typical.
Just to be sure, it appears the fan belt is the single belt used with the RS pulley. Is this correct?
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 153
From: Montana
Solid advice, thanks! I do keep a spare DME in the glove box (with a Focus 9 solid-state unit plugged in), but now I'll be sure to keep belts in the car as well.
To simplify things a bit, I'm considering going with the RS pulley to combine the fan and alternator belts but understand there are some concerns with the alternator being under-charged with this setup. I don't track the car, but it's not a daily driver either. When it goes out, it's typically for a fun drive. Sitting at idle in traffic is always a possibility, but not typical.
Just to be sure, it appears the fan belt is the single belt used with the RS pulley. Is this correct?
To simplify things a bit, I'm considering going with the RS pulley to combine the fan and alternator belts but understand there are some concerns with the alternator being under-charged with this setup. I don't track the car, but it's not a daily driver either. When it goes out, it's typically for a fun drive. Sitting at idle in traffic is always a possibility, but not typical.
Just to be sure, it appears the fan belt is the single belt used with the RS pulley. Is this correct?
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From: Dallas, TX
Lots of good advise in this thread..
I add that you should consider the pulley update if your car doesn't already have it, see the attached Technic Service Bulletin. Many of our cars already have this update installed. If your pulley halves are thin stamped steel, they are the original pulleys, if they are cast metal with a gold chromate color they are the updated pulleys. Also the updated pulleys do not allow for the storage of the extra shims on the pulley shaft
I add that you should consider the pulley update if your car doesn't already have it, see the attached Technic Service Bulletin. Many of our cars already have this update installed. If your pulley halves are thin stamped steel, they are the original pulleys, if they are cast metal with a gold chromate color they are the updated pulleys. Also the updated pulleys do not allow for the storage of the extra shims on the pulley shaft
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 153
From: Montana
Lots of good advise in this thread..
I add that you should consider the pulley update if your car doesn't already have it, see the attached Technic Service Bulletin. Many of our cars already have this update installed. If your pulley halves are thin stamped steel, they are the original pulleys, if they are cast metal with a gold chromate color they are the updated pulleys. Also the updated pulleys do not allow for the storage of the extra shims on the pulley shaft
I add that you should consider the pulley update if your car doesn't already have it, see the attached Technic Service Bulletin. Many of our cars already have this update installed. If your pulley halves are thin stamped steel, they are the original pulleys, if they are cast metal with a gold chromate color they are the updated pulleys. Also the updated pulleys do not allow for the storage of the extra shims on the pulley shaft
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From: Dallas, TX
I don't recall as I have not changed the belts in a while and I just reassemble the pulley components and shims in the exact same way as I took them off. I recall with the old pulley extra shims were placed on the shaft not between pulley halves so if needed they were readily on hand to adjust tension. With the update pulley the unused shims are stored in the frunk, I keep them in a zip-lock bag. I think I have changed the belts three time and in each case using a Gates belt tensioner gauge (inexpensive & identical to the Porsche example) to check belt tension and it turned out I ended up using the same shimming as was present before replacing the belts. I believe it is very important to use the tension gauge as I believe too much tension can cause the fan blades to strike the housing and also lead to premature alternator or fan bearing failure. I have always used the gauge and have never needed to replace the alternator on my 86' Carrera at 150K miles or my 993 at 100K miles for bearing failure, others have not been so lucky.
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From: United States
Man... you guys got me so paranoid about my belts that I just ordered all 4 belts! Mine are 7 yrs old but only have 3,000 miles on them. They look brand new but I am not taking a chance!
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 153
From: Montana
Its the tool second from bottom, on the right. It has the star shaped head to fit into the bolt-socket when counter-turning the nut that holds the outer pulley on. You can check your kit and double check you have it.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 153
From: Montana
I don't recall as I have not changed the belts in a while and I just reassemble the pulley components and shims in the exact same way as I took them off. I recall with the old pulley extra shims were placed on the shaft not between pulley halves so if needed they were readily on hand to adjust tension. With the update pulley the unused shims are stored in the frunk, I keep them in a zip-lock bag. I think I have changed the belts three time and in each case using a Gates belt tensioner gauge (inexpensive & identical to the Porsche example) to check belt tension and it turned out I ended up using the same shimming as was present before replacing the belts. I believe it is very important to use the tension gauge as I believe too much tension can cause the fan blades to strike the housing and also lead to premature alternator or fan bearing failure. I have always used the gauge and have never needed to replace the alternator on my 86' Carrera at 150K miles or my 993 at 100K miles for bearing failure, others have not been so lucky.
What tension do you use on the Gates gauge for each belt?
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From: MD
Solid advice, thanks! I do keep a spare DME in the glove box (with a Focus 9 solid-state unit plugged in), but now I'll be sure to keep belts in the car as well.
To simplify things a bit, I'm considering going with the RS pulley to combine the fan and alternator belts but understand there are some concerns with the alternator being under-charged with this setup. I don't track the car, but it's not a daily driver either. When it goes out, it's typically for a fun drive. Sitting at idle in traffic is always a possibility, but not typical.
Just to be sure, it appears the fan belt is the single belt used with the RS pulley. Is this correct?
To simplify things a bit, I'm considering going with the RS pulley to combine the fan and alternator belts but understand there are some concerns with the alternator being under-charged with this setup. I don't track the car, but it's not a daily driver either. When it goes out, it's typically for a fun drive. Sitting at idle in traffic is always a possibility, but not typical.
Just to be sure, it appears the fan belt is the single belt used with the RS pulley. Is this correct?
You’ll have to remove the alt and fan to extract the fan bearing.
This pic shows the RS conversion bit installed.
Voila!
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Don't waste your money. They don't break from age. They break because they're installed incorrectly or they're too tight. If your belts are installed correctly, you can sleep easily at night.
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From: United States
