Tensioner pulley life span?

[Local Boy]

Anyone have an idea what is the typical life span of our tensioner pulleys?

My belt seems to be getting thrown off the P/S pulley by one rib, more often now....It never did this before...

So, I'm wondering if my T pulley is getting weak (spring)...had it for @ 2-3 years...

Thanks...

Aloha

[tbone]

You probably have a bad one.

[RF Overlord]

Phoebe has the original...155k on it

Pat (I think) had the same issue and it was his Vortech was out of alignment...needed some washers or spacers IIRC....

[blazen71]

Are you using the idler pulley from Brian? If so, that bracket may not be squared up and could possibly be twisting/turning the belt just enough to make the belt jump off the p/s pulley and move a rib.

[Local Boy]

Thanks guys...

It goes back on, after every belt change, exactly the same way I installed it years ago....Only now the 1 - rib jump off the P/S pump...

I'll look at the belt and make some adjustments.....

Thanks again...

Aloha

[drewb457]

fire it up and look at the tensioner, if its jumping all over the place the spring is too weak

[martyo]

Phoebe has the original...155k on it

Pat (I think) had the same issue and it was his Vortech was out of alignment...needed some washers or spacers IIRC....

This is good avice.

We use a laser alignment tool for that reason.

I would also look for a jumping tensioner. they are easy to spot.

Plus, how old is your belt?

[burt ragio]

Thump RRR Racing Billet Aluminum Belt Tensioners New Jersey, NJ (http://www.thumpracing.com/)

[Local Boy]

Thanks Burt...Those look awesome...But, I don't think I need to go there just yet...

The belt has a few hundred miles on it...had to replace (twice) due to it shredding off 1 or 2 ribs...This is when I realized I had a problem...

I look at it every time I come home , and have found it 1 rib off several times...

I'll look again at the t-pulley while idling, to see if it's jumping around

Thanks Everyone...

Aloha

[TJCOX]

Anyone have an idea what is the typical life span of our tensioner pulleys?

My belt seems to be getting thrown off the P/S pulley by one rib, more often now....It never did this before...

So, I'm wondering if my T pulley is getting weak (spring)...had it for @ 2-3 years...

Thanks...

Aloha

Mine bearings started to fail at around 85K. I just buy the bearing and force out
the old and install the new. I carry a spare, just in case. These bearing have shields
on them and I remove them and add grease to them then re-install the shields.

[blazen71]

Also, pull the blower and make sure the alum. offset bracket that attaches to the alt. is tight. I had that loosen up ever so slightly and made the blower move quite a bit.

[Local Boy]

Thanks TJCOX...I have replaced the bearings also...but, it's the tensioner (spring) I'm wondering about...not the bearings...Thanks.

Thanks Blazen71...I'll look there also...I haven't thought of that.

BTW: The pulley is solid while idling...No jumping...

I should add...I suspect the belt "jumps" when coming out of Boost.

Aloha

[martyo]

Thanks TJCOX...I have replaced the bearings also...but, it's the tensioner (spring) I'm wondering about...not the bearings...Thanks.

Thanks Blazen71...I'll look there also...I haven't thought of that.

BTW: The pulley is solid while idling...No jumping...

I should add...I suspect the belt "jumps" when coming out of Boost.

Aloha

Rev the car up and look at it.

[fesifisky]

Just had to replace 3 pulleys last night including tensioner. When looking at the front of the engine, the pulley to the farthest to the passenger side was off center...bearing was beyond toast. 157K miles, so can't really complain as they were original.

[blazen71]

I should add...I suspect the belt "jumps" when coming out of Boost.

Aloha

The belt is jumping a rib on the P/S pulley, right? I would really look at the extra idler pulley you added between the alt. and p/s pulley. If it isn't squared up correctly, it could be twisting/turning the belt before it gets to the p/s pulley, causing the belt to jump a rib.

[Local Boy]

Thanks guys...

I will Rev the hell outta this thing to see what the belt does...

Yeah Blazen...I 'am looking at the extra idler pulley and if nothing results from the "Rev job" ...I will probably change out the bracket for another one that puts the pulley farther out...

I'm leaning towards the belt being made a little out of spec (longer) or of softer material......

Aloha