I must be an idiot

[MMcactusflower]

Never having replaced a serpentine drive belt, I attempted to replace the one on my '04 Maurader (purchased a couple of months ago...21,000 miles...owned by an elderly gentleman who traded the car for a small Nissan for relative going to college...I got a great deal on it) since there was a bit of a squeak there and it was the original belt. Got a Motorcraft from Ford (part # JK6932AA as per other owners on this website)...all went well until I tried to put the new belt around the pulleys, et al...and it was so tight I ended up having to try to pry it up on the alternator pulley...the last place I tried to fit the belt. Of course, when I started the car, I found that I had probably scored the belt and it tore in two places on one side...belt ruined and lots of time spent with a very negative result.
I understand that these new belts are stiff (I even left it in the sun for a few hours to loosen it up a bit) but I never had this experience. It simply would not go over the pulleys even with the tensioner relaxed (yes I was reading my Chilton and Haynes manuals so I did that step). Am I missing something? Are the new belts so stiff that it might take the Hulk to thread one on? I ended up putting the old one back on...guess it has stretched so much over the years that it just easily went back on...then I released the tensioner and all was as it was before.
I am perplexed.
I am ready to buy another belt...perhaps a Gates this time...or another brand just to see if it will go on easier. Gez...I did not know this was going to be such a major job.
Help!

Dr. John Bowman
Wimberley, Texas

[Blackened300a]

That tensioner has a lot of travel so be 100% certain its all the way relaxed. I always put it over the alternator last as well and it does take a little force to get it on, but nothing too crazy. Are you 100% sure you have the routing correct? There is also the routing for the 2V motor on the cover along with the Marauder routing. Did you use the right one? Try another belt and see how it goes.

[a_d_a_m]

The last Gatorback I bought, allegedly the "right" one according to the parts store guy, was so snug that I had to have a neighbor max out the tensioner just to get the damn thing on.

I'm convinced I was sold an incorrect belt and will correct this (as well as buy a new tensioner) this spring when I do my UDPs.

[tbone]

The routing can be tricky.

[Egon Spengler]

The last Gatorback I bought, allegedly the "right" one according to the parts store guy, was so snug that I had to have a neighbor max out the tensioner just to get the damn thing on.

I'm convinced I was sold an incorrect belt and will correct this (as well as buy a new tensioner) this spring when I do my UDPs.
I bought a gatorback as well and it was pretty tight. I needed two people to do it if I remember correctly. Are they just tight to begin with because maybe they stretch a bit when they get broken in, so they are compensating for that?

[CBT]

I needed two people to do it if I remember correctly. Are they just tight to begin with because maybe they stretch a bit when they get broken in, so they are compensating for that?
M-m-mmmmmust refrain-n-n-nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nn!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paul T. Casey]

I did mine last Fall. I thought it was the easiest belt I've ever changed. One man (me) old one off, new one on in under 5 minutes. I ever remeber mentioning to my son something along the lines of how we had to make it look tougher or Georgann would find us some real work to do.

[RF Overlord]

The last Gatorback I bought, allegedly the "right" one according to the parts store guy, was so snug that I had to have a neighbor max out the tensioner just to get the damn thing on.


I bought a gatorback as well and it was pretty tight. I needed two people to do it if I remember correctly. Are they just tight to begin with because maybe they stretch a bit when they get broken in, so they are compensating for that?I have a Gatorback on Phoebe and had no difficulty installing it. It was snug, but nothing unusual.

To the OP...either you had the routing wrong, or you were sold the wrong belt. It should NEVER take The Hulk to install a serpentine belt.

Unless you're The Shermanator and running so much boost you need a tiny belt to keep the blower from slipping... :eek:

[MMcactusflower]

Thanks for all the replies...I am sure I got the routing correct...checked it many times before starting up. I too thought this belt was WAY too tight. I will try another brand and see if that helps with the installation.
What a great resource this website is. Hopefully, I can help someone during my MM ownership. Thanks again.

[SID210SA]

Welcome sir....wow your pretty close to San Antonio....if you ever need help with anything, I would be glad to help. I went with Gatorback myself, all I can say is that you may have been given the wrong size belt....it was 10X harder to put it on my Suburban than it was to change in on the Marauder. Then again there are 2 belts on the Burb and you have to take off one to get to the other.

[justbob]

You absolutely possitive that it was totally on all other pullies? If it slid to the back or front of any other pulley, it probably won't fit by the time you get to the last.

[fastblackmerc]

You either got the wrong size belt or you routed it wrong.

You do know that you have to move the tensioner.............

I put the belt on all the pulleys (correct routing observed) then I move the tensioner to slip the belt under it.

Belts:
Serpentine (NAPA) – PBH4060923 - stock
Gatorback (Goodyear) – 4060922 - stock

[Blackened300a]

You absolutely possitive that it was totally on all other pullies? If it slid to the back or front of any other pulley, it probably won't fit by the time you get to the last.

True, it sometimes will hang up on the outer edge of the power steering pulley or crank shaft pulley.

[FordNut]

I would get a Gates belt as first choice.

Either it was the wrong belt, routed wrong, or partially off of one of the other pulleys. It's hard to get the Compressor, PS, Crank pulleys all belted up without it slipping off while putting it on the other pulleys.

[LANDY]

I prefer gates as well, the belt in this cars are fairly easy take your time and follow the routing on the radiator cover. Even on a s/c car it is still easy, I had to do mine on the side of the turnpike once.

[Mr. Man]

Compare the new belt to the old one. They should be pretty close in size. Never had an issue with the 3 belts on Ms.D's car.

[MMcactusflower]

Thanks for all the replies folks.
I do appreciate the information.

[johnnyrauder]

the car isn't s/c is it

[JBeezy]

I found mine to be kind of difficult to install. After trying to go over different pulleys it turned out to be pretty easy. Can't remember which I went over last either.