So it was finally time to replace the factory belt tensioner on my '87 GT, as the bearing was squeaking on a regular basis. The old Ford tensioner was great in that it has a lip on both sides, and a bunch of grooves inside to help keep the belt in place.
Well the new pulley is 100% smooth, no guides, no ridges, etc.
My first thought was "how is the belt going to stay on this thing? Sure enough, after installing it and running the car for only short period of time, the belt tracks to the point where it's halfway off the pulley.
Even if it does stay on, we're talking premature belt wear for sure. I got the tensioner from Latemodel Restoration. It's 100% metal, so it's not some cheap piece of junk, or at least I thought it wasn't going to be junk. Any ideas?
Well the new pulley is 100% smooth, no guides, no ridges, etc.
My first thought was "how is the belt going to stay on this thing? Sure enough, after installing it and running the car for only short period of time, the belt tracks to the point where it's halfway off the pulley.
Even if it does stay on, we're talking premature belt wear for sure. I got the tensioner from Latemodel Restoration. It's 100% metal, so it's not some cheap piece of junk, or at least I thought it wasn't going to be junk. Any ideas?