How much tension should a fan belt have?

The required measure of tension in the serpentine belt is that it should not deflect more than ½ inch when twisted either way from the middle. If twisted more, the belt is loose, and if twisted less, the belt is too tight. Either of the positions does not work for the vehicle.

Where can I find a drive belt tensioner and pulley guide?

What happens when there is insufficient tension on a V-belt?

Also, industry changes to smaller engine compartments has resulted in a hotter environment for V-belts and has necessitated more compact accessory packaging, resulting in a reduced belt to pulley contact. Insufficient belt tension causes slippage, squealing, heat build-up, belt roll-over and premature failure.

What to do when your pulleys are out of alignment?

Once runouts are in tolerance, proceed to install new belts. Place the new belts into the sheave grooves, reposition the sheaves to rough alignment, and check that the belts are properly seated within their grooves. Turnover damage Image courtesy of The Gates Rubber Company

What kind of noise does belt tension make?

Belt tension can apply high load to the bushings, and the reversing motion found in some domestic appliances compounds the problem of establishing a satisfactory oil film. Belt noise can take the form of squeals and squeaks or chirps, both of which are generally more annoying than damaging. Noise commonly occurs with all types and makes of belts.

Can a bad drive belt pulley cause wear?

If the drive belt tensioner pulley has any sort of issue it can cause unusual and accelerated wear on the belt. A bad pulley can cause fraying on the edges of the belt, and in severe cases can even cause it to break. 3. Belt-driven accessories fail Another symptom of bad or failing drive belt tensioner is failure of the belt driven accessories.

What should the tension be on a fan belt?

Check the belt tension. Test the tension at the area where the belt is the longest length between accessories. The amount of tension may be specific to the engine, but generally, it should have no more than about ½ to 1 inch of give.

What causes a belt tensioner pulley to squeak?

Tensioner pulley wear will cause your pulley to squeak. A worn out pulley bearing or a worn spring in the tension pulley can also cause squeaking or a chirp. I show you how to use water to identify what type of squeak problem you have and then how to find the problem.