My serpentine belt tensioner doesn't seem to work right

[platon20]

I tried to turn the bolt counterclockwise, per the manual instructions, and the pulley didn't do anything, it just stayed stuck in one place and the belt is still tight.

Even after I unscrewed the bolt, the pulley is still tight.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Scott Danforth]

you are turning the bolt the wrong way you turned counterclockwise vs clockwise, all you did was remove the bolt holding the idler on the spring loaded arm. do not run like that, it will walk that idler off its post and fling it at your head.

now put the bolt back in and turn clockwise, and when the bolt bottoms out, the torque on the screw will rotate the idler on the spring loaded arm

most of the time just reach down and push the idler arm out of the way with your hand while you are swapping belt

 

[alldodge]

Which motor do you have?

 

[Scott Danforth]

By the way, the instructions shown are wrong, it says to turn counterclockwise and should read clockwise.

note the location of the spring arm pivot to the idler bearing center, it can only turn clockwise to release

 

[RaceCarRich]

I have no experience with this combo but it appears that turning the bolt clockwise moves the tensioner in a counterclockwise arc. It says to move tensioner CCW not the bolt.

 

[platon20]

OK thanks, I was able to get it off.

Now I have to remove about 3 more parts of the engine before I can even get to the sea pump bracket to take off the sea pump and change the impeller.

What a pain