Belt tension - seems very tight!

[nov74fj40]

I just got my 01 back from the dealer (went lazy and let them change all belts, etc.). I gotta tell you, these belts seem extremely tight. I can't get hardly a 1/8th in play in these things. Is this normal? I felt the tension on the a/c belt and that sucker is tight too, but isn't that on a preloaded tension pully?

Thanks for any response on this.

 

[LINY4Runner]

A quick and easy rule of thumb is to try and rotate the belt to the side. It should rotate about 90 degrees (or perpendicular to the belt in it's normal state) under moderate hand pressure. Any less, the belt is a little tight. Any more and it should get cranked down a bit more.

 

[techno]

The belts will stretch and settle in a little over the next couple of hundred miles or so. It's good that they are tight now. The dealer did my belts a few weeks ago and they were quite tight. There is a special tool the the techs have to set the tension correctly.

 

[LINY4Runner]

The dealer did my belts a few weeks ago and they were quite tight. There is a special tool the the techs have to set the tension correctly.

Sorry, buddy...but someone was untruthful with you at some point.

The only tool needed to set the tension on the belts is a 12mm wrench.

 

[nov74fj40]

Preload on the A/C belt

I can't really tell, but isn't the A/C belt preloaded on a pully? If so, then I guess the tensions are correct because that sucker is TIGHT too.

 

[Houston]

I try to keep my belts a little on the loose side. I like to be able to flip the belt 90degrees easily and absolutely no squealing. I've never had any problems and I feel that the more tension the shorter the life span of the belt.


That special tool at the dealership is called technician know how. We all go threw training courses and updates on new servicing techniques. I'm updated on the p.o.s. international engines at my work every 6 months on average. With toyota using serpentine belts for almost everything, the need for very tight belts is in the past. Running a V grove belt however does require the rule of thumb mentioned, 90degree turn and tension when doing so.

 

[techno]

Sorry, buddy...but someone was untruthful with you at some point.

The only tool needed to set the tension on the belts is a 12mm wrench.

I'll post a picture of the tool tonight. The tech even showed it to me. It's a device that applies a set pressure to the belt at a predetermined point and then measures the deflection.

Sounds like a load of crap doesn't it? You can set the tension to whatever you think is correct using your own judgment, or it can be done the 'official' way too.

 

[techno]

I can't really tell, but isn't the A/C belt preloaded on a pully? If so, then I guess the tensions are correct because that sucker is TIGHT too.

It is not preloaded. There is an adjustment screw below and behind the idler pulley. It's hard to see looking in from the top, but easy to see from underneath with the front skid removed, which is about the only way to access it.

 

[LINY4Runner]

I feel that the more tension the shorter the life span of the belt.

It's like tire pressure, too low and too high will shorten the life. You want juuuuuust right

 

[Stick Figure]

I'll post a picture of the tool tonight. The tech even showed it to me. It's a device that applies a set pressure to the belt at a predetermined point and then measures the deflection.

Sounds like a load of crap doesn't it? You can set the tension to whatever you think is correct using your own judgment, or it can be done the 'official' way too.

I just stumbled across a pic of the OTC version of the tool .......

http://www.otctools.com/products/universal_belt_tension_gauge

 

[techno]

Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot to post a pic.

Thats what they look like. It's hard to picture anybody actually being bothered to use it, but with todays litiguous society the dealers would be foolish not to.