Gates Tensioner Pulley

[BigMike18]

I bought this Gates 36119 Pulley from Rock Auto after seeing a few other threads and videos of people saying they replaced their belt tensioner pulley with it.

I put mine on due to a intermittent squeal I get on some start ups and in the rain. The current pulley is my suspected culprit (status of it is below in photos).

Although this gates pulley is much larger in diameter, but not in width. The bearing seemed fine in my hand.

But I installed it and tried to spin it and no budge and knew it would just burn up a belt or mess the pulley surface so I removed and put the old one back on.

The surfaces where the pulleys meet the mounting point (towards engine) seem a bit different.

Gates bearing doesn't go all the way through and looks like it almost needs a spacer of some sort.

Old one has the bearing flush against mounting point.


If anyone has any experience changing this out or using this specific pulley that would be great.

 

[AuSeeker]

Not sure what year model or engine you have but I replaced mine on my 2004 V8, I got the replacement from NAPA because I needed it ASAP, in the 2004 mid-year is when they changed the size from 105mm to 90mm for the V8, don't know about the V6, both sizes are listed for the 2004 model year V8, I had to go back outside to measure mine to get the correct one, I had no problem with mine, it was a direct replacement, don't remember the brand, But you also need to get the correct size belt, the larger pulley needs a longer belt, which you would have discovered trying to install your old belt, whoever change my serpentine belt last before I bought it somehow got the smaller belt on there and I couldn't get it off, I tried to released all the tension but the tensioner only moved slightly and not enough to get the belt off, I ended up having to cut it, I'm pretty sure that it being so tight probably made the pulley bearing going bad before it's time.

Sorry I can't be of any more help but I would get the correct size pulley if I were you, I also wanted to mention the belt size.

 

[BigMike18]

I've got an 05 V8.

I'm returning the Gates one and gonna give this one on Rock Auto a try first since I've got store credit now.

The specifications line up between this new one and the Dorman one I'm seeing from Rock Auto.

Judging by the looks of it, makes me think the OEM hardware will work with this one as well.

 

[AuSeeker]

I've got an 05 V8.

I'm returning the Gates one and gonna give this one on Rock Auto a try first since I've got store credit now.

The specifications line up between this new one and the Dorman one I'm seeing from Rock Auto.

Judging by the looks of it, makes me think the OEM hardware will work with this one as well.

That one definitely looks better and the correct 90mm size, it should work fine, let us know how it goes.

 

[Drcoffee]

Its been a while since I did mine. I seem to recall the tensioner pulley had a thick washer on the backside of the pulley.

What year and engine do you have?

Another option is buying just tje bearing and replace the bearing in the pulley which is what I do. On the brown seal of the bearing there is a code number like 6205 or 5206. Since you have it off the engine read the code and go find a bearing on ebay. You just press it out and in making sure it lands in the same position. I prefer koyo or skf brand. I buy 6 at a time. I think the tensioner is thicker than the idler pulley.

 

[Drcoffee]

You need two 6203 bearings to replace the single 5203 bearing. And once you do it, it will look like this. The black pulley was blasted, painted and two new SKF bearings installed. The bearings can be found on ebay for $5 each and the bearing you installed will be high quality, unlike the chinese crap in all the aftermarket replacement pulleys you can get off the shelf. You dont need to repaint it.

This should be helpful. The fj cruiser has the same engine setup.

Idler Pulley/Bearing Failure, what to do: | Page 10 | Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

 

[AuSeeker]

Its been a while since I did mine. I seem to recall the tensioner pulley had a thick washer on the backside of the pulley.

What year and engine do you have?

Another option is buying just tje bearing and replace the bearing in the pulley which is what I do. On the brown seal of the bearing there is a code number like 6205 or 5206. Since you have it off the engine read the code and go find a bearing on ebay. You just press it out and in making sure it lands in the same position. I prefer koyo or skf brand. I buy 6 at a time. I think the tensioner is thicker than the idler pulley.

As he mentioned in his second post, he has an 05 V8, his will be different than yours since you have a V6.

 

[Drcoffee]

V8 or V6 same concept. Look for the code and simply buy the bearing. Swap it out and get back to driving.

It looks to be a common 6203 bearing from what I see on the pulleys.

Ebay bearing .