Thread: Spare tensioner pulley anyone?

You need to identify which component is making the noise: bearing or belt.

Since you've replaced bearings and belts, I'll bet it is an alignment issue with the belt and tensioner (could be either belt).
This noise is not caused by the bearing running on an angle, but the belt contacting the surface of the tensioner on an angle, and usually lessens or disappears once the engine (belt) is warm.

Spray the back (smooth not ribbed) surface of one of the belts with water or WD40 etc and see if the noise stops.
If it doesn't, try the other belt.

Further advice if that stops the noise.

Originally Posted by nice1guv

You need to identify which component is making the noise: bearing or belt.

Since you've replaced bearings and belts, I'll bet it is an alignment issue with the belt and tensioner (could be either belt).
This noise is not caused by the bearing running on an angle, but the belt contacting the surface of the tensioner on an angle, and usually lessens or disappears once the engine (belt) is warm.

Spray the back (smooth not ribbed) surface of one of the belts with water or WD40 etc and see if the noise stops.
If it doesn't, try the other belt.

Further advice if that stops the noise.

Ok well I poured water on both belts (smooth and rough) and it does stop the sqeak for about 5 seconds then comes back louder. Used to have the sqeak problem when I used the belt with the smooth service (dayco) then tried using the rough backing belt (QH) and it was gone for about a few months then has come back. Thanks mate.

Ok, I think it is the alignment issue I alluded to above.

The tensioner pulley is probably slightly out of square with the belt, so that when the back of the belt makes contact with the pulley it gets compressed unevenly against the pulley and makes a squeaking or ticking type of noise (vague desciption ).
I have found that when the belt warms up and is more pliable the sound is reduced or goes completely.
New belts are generally less pliable until they run in, so a new belt can often make the noise worse.
Different brands of belts may make the noise different, but I think the alignment issue is still the underlying problem.

Try the water on only the flat side of the belt and only one belt at a time to confirm which belt is making the noise.

If it is the main belt, use a five cent coin or washer to square it up relative to the belt.
This is usually done by wedging the coin/washer behind the tensioner arm where it attaches to the engine at a 9 o'clock position under the arm as it is viewed from standing in front of the engine.
Make sure you don't put anything too large behind the arm or the locating/locking pin won't be effective and the arm will not hold tension.
If this is the problem it will instantly reduce or stop the noise.

This shouldn't cause any problems in the long term IMO, and can be left there indefinitely.
The bearing will actually be running truer now and should last as long as any other one would.

If the A/C belt / tensioner combination is the one causing the noise, then the same thing can be done by putting something behind the tensioner arm at roughly 9 o'clock again, near or under the bolt on that side.

If the noise is NOT a bearing failing, I believe this tensioner alingment issue (on either of the belts) is the prime culprit for a squeaking/ticking type of noise in the belt region.

Let me know how it goes.

Originally Posted by nice1guv

Ok, I think it is the alignment issue I alluded to above.

The tensioner pulley is probably slightly out of square with the belt, so that when the back of the belt makes contact with the pulley it gets compressed unevenly against the pulley and makes a squeaking or ticking type of noise (vague desciption ).
I have found that when the belt warms up and is more pliable the sound is reduced or goes completely.
New belts are generally less pliable until they run in, so a new belt can often make the noise worse.
Different brands of belts may make the noise different, but I think the alignment issue is still the underlying problem.
Try the water on only the flat side of the belt and only one belt at a time to confirm which belt is making the noise.

If it is the main belt, use a five cent coin or washer to square it up relative to the belt.
This is usually done by wedging the coin/washer behind the tensioner arm where it attaches to the engine at a 9 o'clock position under the arm as it is viewed from standing in front of the engine.
Make sure you don't put anything too large behind the arm or the locating/locking pin won't be effective and the arm will not hold tension.

If this is the problem it will instantly reduce or stop the noise.

This shouldn't cause any problems in the long term IMO, and can be left there indefinitely.
The bearing will actually be running truer now and should last as long as any other one would.

If the A/C belt / tensioner combination is the one causing the noise, then the same thing can be done by putting something behind the tensioner arm at roughly 9 o'clock again, near or under the bolt on that side.

Let me know how it goes.

So greatly appreciated mate. I've only got the main drive belt as the air con is caput. Funny you should say the thing about the alighment being off as on the belt it's self you can see where the pulley has been running and it's nit dead center. Will go and try the coin trick and reply back.

After you put a spacer behind the arm, just make sure the belt is running reasonably down the middle of the pulley and not close to one of the edges.

If it's all good and the sound is gone, then yippee!

If the sound is worse, then try the spacer at the 3 o'clock position instead to square up the belt and pulley in the other direction.
I've not heard of anyone requiring spacing at 3 o'clock, it is normally 9 o'clock, but you never know.

Well all good guys and gals!! Big thanks to niceguy and his advice the squeaking is gone buy placing the 5cent coin at the 9 o'clock position. All I can say is that's the cheapest fix on my landrover EVER!!