ok, im trying to loosen the tensioner, but it seems though matter what direction i loosen it i still cant move the idler pully up and down, form what i was told i should be able to move the idler pull up and down to be able to put on the new belt, but i cant on mine, WTF. i turn the tensioner all the way CC and then it get super tight and i still cant move the pully up or down, same if i turn it clockwise. is the idler pulley of itself supposed to be able to move as i was told?

 

I seem to recall that when I did mine, I left the socket (and long extension) on the tensioner bolt as I loosened it (just removed the ratchet handle every so often). I used a hammer and tapped on the extension to drive the pulley (down?). Next...I reattached the ratchet handle and loosened the tensioner bolt some more...then tapped it some more...rinse and repeat. This gave me more than enough clearance to install the new belt. To tighten was simply clockwise on the tensioner bolt.

 

try loosening the 14mm bolt on the front of the tensioner, the one in the center of the pulley. you don't need a hammer if you do it right way. hammers are FORD tools.

 

That's funny (only not)...I've never owned a domestic vehicle in my life and yet my tapping method worked wonderfully. Note the use of the word "tapping"...it infers delicacy . Otherwise, I may have used "smacked", "pounded" or my personal favorite..."bludgeoned" (a word many Ford owners can likely neither spell nor define).

 

What do you think is used with a punch?

 

ok I tried tapping it a little and nothin happening....I was able to at least get it freely turning counter clockwise but it seems like as much as I turn nothing seems to be loosening...can anyone chime in..

 

Like nitromax said, you have to loosen the nut in the center of the pulley wheel before it will slide up or down. The nut locks it in place once the adjustment is made with the adjustment bolt.

 

with a punch? a ladel & ice, and a raised pinky. it's a joke about the hammer, unless you own a FORD. in that case you know thats the first thing they give with the keys.

 

I see I though you were serious. But it is true most FORD are fixed with Hammers. they had a special on fords on discovery last weekend

 

Come to think of it, the center nut for my pulley may have been a little loose when I installed my belt(s)...that's probably why tapping it lightly worked like a charm. I do recall having to tighten it afterward (I just didn't have to loosen it initially).

 

so,scooobay, did you get the pulley to move freely? worse case scenario, you'll need a new adjuster assembly.

 

nope..I'm still here in the backyard...its starting to strip...I even tried seafoaming the nut....I unno. I have a parts car in the backyard. its surrounded in grass right now....gonna see if I can call one of my dudes and see if the can help

 

Can anyone help? i cant get this bolt off for the life of me. What else should i try?

 

Scooobay, have you loosened the bolt in the center of the idler pulley yet? It's been suggested above but you haven't mentioned whether or not you did that. I had no problems moving my idler pulley after loosening that nut.

 

Oh, and that nut should be fairly easy to loosen. I think the spec was around 25 ft-lb for tightening.

 

Seems like you stripped pulley bolt. Time for vice grips.

 

I duno what i woulda did if you didnt recommend those. got my boy to come out and lemmie use his grips, 10 minutes later the damn nut was off. 9 hours to change a damn belt, ridiculous...thnx to NMEXMAX and everyone else who helped, BIG thanks to my boy comin out at 12 at night to lemmie use his grips.



9 hours later...

 

Lol, wow, even in a completely blurry picture you can see how bad that nut is. Glad you finally got it.

 

HAHA here it is! That was def a messed up looking nut afterwards! Still waiting to see the cart wheels! lol

 

LOL, You missed em , i was flippin at work..:-)

 

Ain't that the truth....why do people still buy their POS..i hear they are loosing a lot of money to the Japs.