Tensioner Belt

[Mustang4119]

I want to install a new alternator and its a smaller pulley. People are saying you have to make the tensioner loose. I dont really get it. I have located it, but I dont get how it works and its in such a tight space, how would someone loosen it. All I see is 1 nut in the middle of a circle.

 

[BennyBlown2v]

The belt tensioner bracket has a spot for a 3/8" socket wrench. Use a ratchet or a breaker bar (makes life easier hah).

 

[CanadaStang]

Yip, the tensioner is spring loaded.

 

[Jinx]

The belt tensioner bracket has a spot for a 3/8" socket wrench. Use a ratchet or a breaker bar (makes life easier hah).

This may not be the exact part, but it is similar. Note the square hole for the 3/8" drive ratchet/breaker bar.

 

[tomustang]

that should be 1/2in

 

[Mustang4119]

3/8 or 1/2??? I looked at it again, its in a very tight spot, I need a long ratchet, since I have a supercharger its underneath it. How do I know what should i have it at? like 10 o clock. Is this really tight thats why i need a good push. I turn it to the left to loosen it?

 

[tomustang]

Use a 1/2in breaker bar, put it in the hole,push it to the right, in which will rotate the tensioner clockwise

 

[Mustang4119]

wouldnt i turn it counter clock wise to loosen the tension? Im not trying to tighten it. Alot of people are saying 3/8". 1/2" looks too big.

 

[Jinx]

You are not going to be loosening any bolts (if I understand you correctly). You are just relieving tension off the belt from a spring loaded arm that has a pully on the end. In which case, tomustang is correct.

 

[Jinx]

Notice item #7. See why it rotates to the right? Because if you rotated it to the left, it would put more tension on the belt (which is the function of the internal spring).

 

[Mustang4119]

I dont understand how a tensioner thing works. How would it tighten a belt? What is it connected to? how does it pull the belt to tighted if the belt goes all the way around in a circle with no cuts. so I would push down to loosen and pull up to tighten again? how would i know how much to tighten to put it back on smaller alt pulley.

 

[BennyBlown2v]

You insert the ratchet or breaker bar into the female socket on the tentioner arm. Then you use the breaker bar or ratchet to rotate the ARM, it's preloaded with an internal spring mechanism.

If you changed one pulley to a smaller one without adding proportionally larger pulleys (like in a UDP set, larger water pump pulley, smaller crank pulley) you'll need a new belt.

 

[Mustang4119]

You insert the ratchet or breaker bar into the female socket on the tentioner arm. Then you use the breaker bar or ratchet to rotate the ARM, it's preloaded with an internal spring mechanism.

If you changed one pulley to a smaller one without adding proportionally larger pulleys (like in a UDP set, larger water pump pulley, smaller crank pulley) you'll need a new belt.

you dont think I will have a little extra tension I can do and tighter up the smaller pulley on the belt?