Stupid pulley question

[Merc82]

Hi all! Got a couple of dumb questions for you. Upon start up in the morn I hear a squeaking for a few minutes, which tells me I may have a pulley on it's way out. My main drive belt is pretty new only a few thousand miles on it. My question is how do I release that tensioner without the tool? I have tried to push that little tab and move it with no avail, so needless to say, the last couple of times I pulled the belt I have one of my bigger friends manhandle that thing back onto the alternator while I lined it up. The tensioner has a place to get a ratchet on it and move it but I can't get anything in there past the shroud, even my Snap On guy had nothing that would fit. My other question is will my water pump "weep" when it's on it's way out? Flow seems good, no temp issues. Smelled coolant a while back, and could of sworn I saw it dripping from that area. Thanks in advance!

[dhanna6powerstroke]

I've never found anything that will work. I always remove the upper fan shroud guard and put one knee on the alt and the other on the radiator and just pull the belt off. As far as the water pump, usually they will weep when they are on the way out.

[g2shuck]

the ater pump will make an odd sound when it starts going out and rubs the front cover

[1fastTRX]

I can't get to the tensioner pulley with anything while the shroud is on. I just replaced my power steering pump. I stood on the pass. batt and alternator then pulled on the belt hard and slipped it off the alternator. Putting the belt back on was harder... I needed to do a little swearing and then it slipped right on. Lol.

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[phil_phil]

I searched out this thread Serpentine belt replacement - PowerStrokeNation : Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum when I changed out my belt, so there is a tool for the job. I made one up by welding a 1/2 peice of square stock diagonally onto a 1/4 piece of flat bar stock. Fit good, but never did get it to release enough to push up the locking tab, so I got real mad and jumped up on the passenger tire and pulled like crazy on the belt while a buddy flipped up the locking tab. My buddy is a chevy guy who kept saying my truck was a piece of crap, helped with the anger strength.

Phil

[Fordtrucktexan]

There's a slot on the tensioner pulley housing where you stick in a 1/2" ratchet. I remove the snap-in shround, install the ratchet, and then stick my 3 foot jack handle on it to release the tension. You can do it by yourself but it is a bit easier with two people. I never saw a locking tab on mine unless I just broke it when I removed the belt.

[sinner6.0L]

I've been known to make these but they never hang around too long.

1/2" square bar stock 1" long. 1 1/4" x 1/4" x 24" flat steel.



If the tensioner has a lock then lock it and leave the tool hang. if it doesn't have a lock you have to be careful because when you remove the belt the tool will hit close too or right on the positive battery terminal. make the necessary accommodations if that is the case

[Merc82]

Thanks for the replys! I do think it's the pump. I think I'll check into it this weekend. If it is I'm going with the BPD one. Just makes sense as I want to keep the truck. I guess I'll tackle this when my shop closes for Christmas. Was planning on doing a Coolant flush as well. Just don't know if I am gonna do a chemical flush or not, but if I'm putting in a pump of this caliber I might just do it and plan on a cooler soon as well in the near future . Thanks for showing me that sinner 6.0 I can probably make that. And thanks for the info guys.

[ZMANN]

not sure what your squeak is but I can pull the belt with my left arm and flip the hold open on the idler with my right hand ,,

I would still wipe some liquid dish soap on the belt sides and let it dry a bit then see if it still squeaks

[dhanna6powerstroke]

Originally Posted by ZMANN

not sure what your squeak is but I can pull the belt with my left arm and flip the hold open on the idler with my right hand ,,

I would still wipe some liquid dish soap on the belt sides and let it dry a bit then see if it still squeaks

Are you a body builder?! I don't have enough s**t to do that.