Belt tensioner collapsed, bolt threading directions? - Diesel Forum

RayHell · 05-28-2006, 12:40 PM

Hi all,
she stopped today after major noise, cause: Belt tensioner seems to have collapsed and bent out, fan has crushed the pulley, belt wound around main pulley, strangling the engine.. To get the tensioner out, the plastic pulley right below it must out first, but the torx bolt seems stuck... I guess it is threaded anti clockwise, so I must turn it clockwise to loosen, am I right? (The pulley runs anticlockwise as far as I can see) Want to be sure befor I any more force on it.
Thanks.

cdnsarguy · 05-28-2006, 02:16 PM

Visit my gallery for the picture........

RayHell · 05-28-2006, 03:55 PM

Thanks Pete, that did the trick. As always you've got the answer [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Inside the tensioner there is an aluminium "tower" and at the end a steel plate is attached, holding the whole cr.. togheter. The plate was simply broken right off and all disintegrated.. Hope the new one will hold longer.

Ray.

truckdrivindave · 05-29-2006, 08:09 AM

Just keep an eye on it. Ive had to replace mine within 2 years of replacing with a new one. The Ford Stealership parts guy just shrugged his shoulder when I told him when I asked about warranty. But with mine I had noticed a longer start and dimming of lights when I decided to check my belts and had noticed a odd shift in the tensoner seating. I took it out after determineing that it was bolted correctly and found it to be nearly ready to bust. I installed the new one and truck started quicker and the lights became brighter...I am planning on it busting again so I am keeping an eye on it....

Also make sure you have the right v belt when you replace it. I think one is an inch diffrence than the other. Also there is a marking on the tensoner when the belt is installed that tells you if it is correct....

RayHell · 05-30-2006, 02:05 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Also make sure you have the right v belt when you replace it. I think one is an inch diffrence than the other. Also there is a marking on the tensoner when the belt is installed that tells you if it is correct....

[/ QUOTE ]

Got the tensioner and new belt on yesterday, fumbled some to get the belt on because it was so tight... but at last I got it on by sliding it on the idler pulley as the last one. Very tight, but the arrow on the tensioner is right on the beginning(left) of the wear marking so I guess the belt is correct.

IDMT · 06-05-2006, 08:27 PM

Ray, hang onto all the old parts. Ford warrants the tensioners for 1 year. I had to replace mine in a parking lot once and still had all the old parts when my "new one" snapped less than a year later. I took all the parts from the first one that broke and saved myself $100.

Why they build those things so cheap I'll never know. A huge steel spring in a potmetal housing. I added a steel washer to the front plate and so far (2 years) no trouble.