i ended up having to replace the idler pulley on mine today.. from what ive heard its a common problem with these.. someone told me it should be loose enough to be able to spin the idler by hand with the belt in place... is this true.. im in water a good bit so i dont want any squeling.. thankss

 

Half inch of play up and down.

 

Isnt it kind of hard to say a definite measurement? I mean I may push harder than you, or you than me, and that would give me more or less but in fact the belt is the same tightness. If that makes any sense.

 

Two finger wiggle haha, thats what my boss calls it. Or we say if its not slipping, your good.

 

if you are squealing from the bearings it is TO tight lol. but yes about 1/2" of wiggle. and no matter how hard you push or pull the belt will only stretch so much lol so 1/2" is pretty accurate.


btw. that is 1/2" at your longest span from pully to pully

 

If it has the adjusting bolt I think I read that you torque that to 125 ft lbs. I don't know what year you have.

 

where did you read that? i just checked my FSM (i have a few different years) and all it says is:

Using serpentine belt tension gauge, tighten adjusting bolt until belt reaches proper tension. Refer to Belt Tension at the rear of this section for proper belt tension.


125 foot pounds is a TON of torque.... Like body weight when tightening lug nuts.... TO MUCH TORQUE for a belt.... I can tell you that!

 

Lugs are 90.....I do 75 on them.

 

i do 100ft lbs on lugs when i do them.

 

I have crappy ones with chrome covers, 90lbs would kill them.

back to op.

1/2"

 

Well, I don't know where I read it, but you can't compare it to lugs because you've got a leverage thing going on here. I can't swear that's what I read but it sure rings a bell for my 01. Also, look through these Fora and yo'll see a lot of broken adjusters.

 

I think being able to turn the idler by hand might be a little bit too loose. I've always adjusted mine to about 1/2" deflection. But adjust it to whatever you want... it's yours. If it works it works... and if it don't it don't. And if it don't it won't be long before you find out it didn't then you'll rethink it and maybe do it a little different the next time. Maybe a little tighter... maybe a little looser... and it'll still be yours til you trash it or sell it.

 

I do the twist that is what I learned when I was a kid and it has always worked.

Twist your belt if you can twist it more than 90 deg it is loose. If you can't twist it 90 deg then it is too tight. RIght at 90 degrees is good to go.

 

between what two accessories are you twisting?

 

Top by the power steering