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I would make a tool Posted by Bill Homer [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Re: Serpintine belt tool, Ari ![]() |
It is possible to change the belt without the tool, but there are other things to consider:
1. Is this the first time that you are doing this (probably, if you are asking this question!)?
2. What if you have to scratch your nose?
3. What if you want to change some other parts?
4. It has been said that allowing the tensioner to extend all the way is possibly bad for its health, i.e. taking the belt off and then letting go of the tension, which you will need to do to get the tensioner pulley off.
I would recommend making the tool, the hardest part is finding a piece of metal and then drilling two holes. I used a piece of fairly thick (about 2 mm) "L"-shaped angle iron, approximately 1-inch by 1-inch (the edges of the angle iron) by 7-inches long - you can find this at a welding shop, probably scrap. Angle iron resists bending much better than flat stock, and there is enough room to get the 1-inch thickness into place on the car. If I were making it again, I would also use 5/16-inch bolts instead of the 1/4-inch that I used - the tensioner has a LOT of power!
If your car has high miles, I would also recommend changing the idler pulley and tensioner pulley while you are changing the belt. Purchsed from one of the site sponsors, the parts are fairly inexpensive (approximately $45 for both) and there have been numerous posts of their bearings failing with little or no warning, taking out the belt, ripping wires off the compressor, etc. Not a lot of extra work (1 more bolt), not a lot of extra money, and for me a lot of peace of mind.
posted by 129.188.33...
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