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Problems with Serpentine Belt

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Old May 20, 2008 | 10:44 AM
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Default Problems with Serpentine Belt

Anybody else run into a problem with their serpentine belt jumping a few ribs on their cars? I have the alternator relocated up top and can't seem to keep the belt from jumping a few ribs on the power steering and crank pulley.

I bought a new tensioner last night and I am going to try that. Need to swap my pullies though. My old one is a bit bigger than the one that comes on the new tensioner.

Thanks

Patrick
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Old May 20, 2008 | 10:50 AM
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The manual tensioner will solve all your problems
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Old May 20, 2008 | 10:53 AM
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I saw an alternator relocation kit that removes the tensioner all together. Anybody tried that piece?

Made by MachineHead

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Old May 20, 2008 | 11:03 AM
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The majority of the time when the belt jumps ribs on a pulley is that is not lined up with the rest. Since you have relocated the alternator, double check to make sure it aligned correctly.

Keith
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Old May 20, 2008 | 11:04 AM
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Just by eye balling it looks okay. Have any tips on making sure everything is lined up?
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Old May 20, 2008 | 11:43 AM
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use a straight edge, something is apparently crooked or it would not move the belt.
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Old May 20, 2008 | 12:19 PM
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When my tensioner went bad my belt would walk up a couple ribs. I got a new tensioner and used the pulley of a 3.8 supercharger because it has a higher lip to retain the belt better. Seems OK now.
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Old May 20, 2008 | 01:02 PM
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Do you happen to have a measurement of that 3.8 pulley? I'd like to compare that to the size pulley that I have on the tensioner now. Thanks.

Patrick
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Old May 20, 2008 | 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Pat-Man
Do you happen to have a measurement of that 3.8 pulley? I'd like to compare that to the size pulley that I have on the tensioner now. Thanks.

Patrick

No, I don't. Do a search in here for pulleys, thats how I found it. It is slightly larger than the stocker, but not much.
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Old May 20, 2008 | 05:02 PM
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cool idea man, lets have the gm pn for that pulley!
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Old May 20, 2008 | 09:44 PM
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The idler pulley having a higher edge is what stopped my problems. Mine would kick the belt forward every time I went over 8000 two ribs. I finally made a tensioner pulley with 3/8 high walls and all was well.

Kurt
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Old May 20, 2008 | 11:02 PM
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Those with their alternators relocated, what belt are you using? I got a new tensioner and installed it tonight. Unfortunately, my serpentine belt is now stretched and I need a new one. I'm thinking I might need a short belt. Thanks.
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Old May 22, 2008 | 02:43 AM
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Post a picture of the bracket you are using. A friend told me to loosen my alternator from the bracket first and then bend down which was the opposite of what I thought was needed (I was bending it up) and the belt lined right up. I'm not at home to post a picture of mine. I thought I was going to have to modify and spend another $50 to fix it and all it took was a little patience and 15 minutes. The high lip pulley seems like a jerryrig to me. Seems like you would be putting a lot of tension on the end of the belt where it would rub the wall of the pulley. I would think that the belt would wear out prematurely/get soft on that side? Hey whatever gets it runnin' though right?
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Old May 22, 2008 | 02:47 AM
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With my smokin hawk alt relocation bracket, I had to shim it out to get the pulleys to line up correctly. That was throwing my belt off a few ribs at a time, until it came off completely or shredded. No more problems after shimming.
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Old May 22, 2008 | 07:54 AM
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I will get pics tonight. My bracket is a lot like Smokinhawk's bracket (whom I PM'd last night to see if he could send me one). I have the belt tight now. Got another belt since the last one stretched out a bit from being off a few ribs. It still squeals a little bit leading me to believe I don't have it quite tight enough yet.
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Old May 22, 2008 | 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Pat-Man
I will get pics tonight. My bracket is a lot like Smokinhawk's bracket (whom I PM'd last night to see if he could send me one). I have the belt tight now. Got another belt since the last one stretched out a bit from being off a few ribs. It still squeals a little bit leading me to believe I don't have it quite tight enough yet.
Mine squealed a lot when the belts were crooked, due to the belt pulling on one side of the pulley. I'm guessing it's jumping off on the power steering pulley? Worst comes to worst, there is an old GN pulley that can be swapped onto the PS pump that has a taller ridge on the outside edge, which will keep the belt from jumping at all. But I'd suggest doing everything you can to get the pulleys into good alignment.
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Old May 22, 2008 | 09:14 AM
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The Katech manual tensioner will probably solve your problem. We have a KB LS2 truck here that slung belts like it was its job...if you watched the tensioner on the dyno it would fling around and then shoot the belt off.

Something to look at atleast...
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Old May 22, 2008 | 09:27 AM
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It was jumping about two ribs off the power steering pulley and off the crank pulley. I got a new tensioner and installed it along with a new belt. Everything looks okay for now, just getting some squealing. I think the belt might not be tight enough on the water pump bell causing it to rub and squeal.
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Old May 22, 2008 | 09:30 AM
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high wall pulleys for the win.
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Old May 22, 2008 | 11:01 AM
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MM made my manual tensioner and I am using the Stainless works alt rel bracket with quite a bit if shimming and all is well since with stock belt and stock pulley. The shimming is what fixed everything for me.
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