Belt tensioner

wildphil

I Love My Ty's
I have tried two new tensioners from the local auto parts stores. Both of them have way to much movement. I don't like it at all. The tensioner on my other truck stays nice and steady. I wonder if the spring is to weak on the non-stock tensioners? Should I get one from the salvage yard and try it? I just wonder about the service life of these parts.
 

0966Sy

Code what?
Re: Belt tensioner

If it stays nice and steady after moving it it's bad, nothing wrong with the tensioner moving a little. Verify you have the correct size belt
 

Damian

Member
Re: Belt tensioner

My stock one didn't move but it also never fully compressed with the belt off either. My new one from Autozone moves a bit when the engine is running, works just fine.
 

Jimmy

Banned
Re: Belt tensioner

Belt prolly too long man.It only takes 15 seconds to change them out.Just keep having the parts fetching monkey bring you a shorter one till it fits :2cents:
 

wildphil

I Love My Ty's
Re: Belt tensioner

Belt prolly too long man.It only takes 15 seconds to change them out.Just keep having the parts fetching monkey bring you a shorter one till it fits :2cents:

It is the length that they show for my truck. And its the same length my other truck has that doesn't shake. That being said the belts look to be long.

I do believe that I will try what you suggested about swapping them out. If I get more tension on it the aftermarket tensioner it may be more steady.

Thanks for the info guys.
 

Jimmy

Banned
Re: Belt tensioner

They got every length of belts but they are all dumb****s.Go down an inch at a time untill it works. No clue.

BTDT you can't tell them ****ers what year make model,cause our shit is all f'd up.

I actually made some ****** measure a belt and get me one 2" shorter because I'm not stupid.
 

Ty#365

BOOST LAUNCH KING
Re: Belt tensioner

I had to get a belt 2.5" shorter to get my tensioner in the middle of its travel range. Mine is pretty stable.
 

wildphil

I Love My Ty's
Re: Belt tensioner

I had to get a belt 2.5" shorter to get my tensioner in the middle of its travel range. Mine is pretty stable.

I didn't make it to the parts store today to get another belt.

I'm glad you posted. If I remember from past searching. Info I saw called for a 97.5" belt for our trucks with A/C and a 95" without. I am wondering if the 95" is the correct length for our trucks with A/C. Do you have A/C still on your truck or is it removed?

Edit: I looked up the sizes again and I was off when I posted the sizes. The belt sizes show 96" for A/C and 94.5" for non A/C. I am going to start with a 94.5" and see how it fits.
 
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sytyguy

Moderated User
Re: Belt tensioner

34.5"? My waist hasn't been that big around since 7th grade. How are you measuring? The stock Gates number is a K060956 and is deciphered like so:

K - Designates serpentine belt
06 - Denotes rib count (in our case, a 6 rib wide belt)
0956 - Denotes the effective length of the belt (also known as cut length....what it would measure if you cut it and laid it out as one long piece)

So, the stock belt is 956 in length, which converts to 95.6" (technically 95.52"). The non-AC belt is a K060938 - 93.8" long (technically 94.09").
 

Jimmy

Banned
Re: Belt tensioner

No one has mentioned a "power pulley". If your engine has one, the required belt is shorter. Very easy to overlook, or not even know it has one of these reduced-diameter pully, if you don't know about the possibility. A stock crank pulley is 2" larger (1" each side) in diameter than the balancer ring. A power pulley is the same diameter as the balancer ring.

Yeah that's what I was saying.Mine had one and the stock belt fit like a pair of clown shoes.
 

wildphil

I Love My Ty's
Re: Belt tensioner

I don't know the actual diameter of my pulleys. I have replaced the idler and tensioner pulleys with stock replacements. But if they come in different diameters. Then that could be a issue.

I went to the parts store today and tried several belts. I ended up with the 0950. Its still just a little long but barely. When I put it on it was just short by the indicator on the tensioner. But it stretched on the trip home to just past the indicator. Should have went with the next size smaller. This belt is much better than the next larger size by far.
 

Jimmy

Banned
Re: Belt tensioner

I don't know the actual diameter of my pulleys. I have replaced the idler and tensioner pulleys with stock replacements. But if they come in different diameters. Then that could be a issue.

I went to the parts store today and tried several belts. I ended up with the 0950. Its still just a little long but barely. When I put it on it was just short by the indicator on the tensioner. But it stretched on the trip home to just past the indicator. Should have went with the next size smaller. This belt is much better than the next larger size by far.

Take it back and get a 93-94" one. Glad you're on the right track.
 

wildphil

I Love My Ty's
Re: Belt tensioner

Take it back and get a 93-94" one. Glad you're on the right track.

I am gonna try this one on the Blue truck to see how it fits also. The one in it is way to long and I can use this for a gauge on it also.
 
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