Help with SDCE Tensioner
 

I have everything on the car. I didn't preload the tensioner like it says in Step 3 Does that really matter? I don't see why it would. How do you do it when you swap out pullies?

I'm a this stage of tightening the belt with the tensioner and the install tool broke. :bang: 2nd time using it. I have it fixed and welded up.

You have to preload the tensioner to get the proper belt tension. Preloading allows you to bolt the tensioner in the right spot.

How I do it is to loosen the old ATI tensioner pulley to give me as much slack as possible. I then pretention the pulley and bolt it in place. I put the belt on using the tensioner tool. I then move the ATI pulley out while torqing on the tensioner to set the tensioner in a 'high tension' spot.

Make sense?

It isn't exactly how the instructions say to do it, but it works for me - no belt slip.

I don't see the point in pre-loading it if you have a belt short enough to always keep tension. As long as there is tension on it plus enough to pull the slack you should be fine. Again assuming that makes sense.

Kevin,

I have it preloaded and the belt is on except on the crank pulley. It seems like its a couple inches short.

If I load the tensioner more, will that allow me to get some extra slack to get the belt on???

The directions aren't the greatest. This is a new kit from SDCE 3.40 pulley and 51" belt.

51" may be a smidge short. I thought I used a 53" when I had a 3.3" pulley, but that was a few years ago - so don't take it as gospel.

If I understand your situation correctly, you have two options. You can either use the torque tool to load the tensioner more to try and get the belt on. Or you can loosen the bolt that holds the tensioner and rotate it a bit, retighten, then try torqing to get the belt on.

If you can't get the belt on moving via rotating the tensioner and torqing on it, then your belt may be too short.

I actually wrote up my own instructions after I got it on the first time - handwritten in garage somewhere.

What your saying makes sense. When I first put it on without pre-tensioning, the belt fit no problem. Now with it pre-tensioned, its not even close. So, I will try to ease off of it to see if that helps. I just don't want the tool to slip off the wrench and lose the pre-tension.

I have a call into SDCE to see if I have the correct belt size. When I ordered it, Scoot seemed very confident.

Thanks!!!

I have a 53" that they gave me originally with a 3.70 pulley.

If you were able to get the belt on it before without it 'pre-tensioned' then it should just be a matter of finding the right combination of tensioner angle and torque.

Are you adjusting the old ati tensioner pulley as well? This pulley is key for me to getting everything tight.

I have the idler pulley at the bottom completely loose. I'll try backing the tensioner off when I get home to try and get the belt on.

You did yours with two people, right? There's no other way to do it, I think.

No, I fly solo when I put mine on. It does look like I'm doing yoga though. My left arm is all callooged over the top of my right arm.

You'll get the hang of it, it just takes getting it on the first time - there are some tricks to it that you'll figure out.

Too funny, but you get the job done.

I finally got the 53" belt on and its a tad below the 30 mark. This is with the 3.4 pulley. With the 3.7 it was a tad above the 15 mark. Its tight as a banjo now compared to the larger pulley. Not sure why a smaller pulley would be harder to get on with the same belt. I had to turn the crank to get the belt over it. Everything turns fine though. Hmmm.

I used to turn my crank as well. I have a different method where I don't have to now.

It is usually pretty tight. I test the tension by twisting the belt 90 deg in an area between pulleys. If I can just barely get it to 90 deg with my two fingers then I call it good.

As long as you are not bottoming out the tensioner I think you are fine.

I've got an hours worth to put it all back together and fire it up.

I'll post how it all goes. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I was thinking the tension should be at the 10 mark (according to the directions) when everything was said and done, but I can't really remember.

They say right around the 15 mark.

I got it running and everything seems fine. No help from SDCE over the phone or emails.

Its time for a tune.

It sounds like its time for Asters bracket. He got back to me at 11pm lol On another note get it tuned and see what she makes!

sdce's customer service has been poor in my experience. i have their bracket and their fans. the fans would not fit in my car properly and they wouldn't even take it back to look at it. i ended up cutting their shroud and managed to get it to fit. i wasn't sure what else to do.

Well, its not tuned yet, but I got on it. I saw 13lbs with the 3.4" 8 rib pulley.

Is there anyone that makes a smaller pulley? I was hoping for 14+lbs

Yes, in my mind SDCE has no customer service.

At what RPM?

Reichard Racing makes smaller pulleys.