New belt on Raw Water Pump - can't get tight enough - where best to leverage?

[harojs]

Put new belts on my 1995 5.0L ( 5.0FLPMDA - charcoal series Ford 302 )

Can't find a good location to leverage off of to get Raw Water Pump and Alternator v-belts tight enough.

Both items are low on side of engine and difficult to see and get at with a pry bar. Working by feel mostly.

Any ideas on leverage points or tricks to get these two belts tighter?

Anyone familiar with this older model ?

( see pics attached )

 

[harojs]

I think I will need to make something like this tool:

https://www.pbase.com/image/114466824

 

[harojs]

Well, here's one on Amazon - a "Belt Tension Jack" - apparently they are kinda cheaply made, but ok if used gently.

https://www.amazon.com/Supco-Belt-T...ocphy=9033257&hvtargid=pla-575152475703&psc=1

 

[harojs]

Read in another forum that a reversed wood clamp could work. I reversed one of mine and will try it in a couple days. Might just do the job - will let you know.

 

[harojs]

Well, the Belt Tension Jack couldn't fit between the Raw Water Pump pulleys which are a short gap, (although this tool worked great on tightening the alternator belt). The Reversed Wood Clamp didn't work either, (just wouldn't fit and hold).

Was only able to get the RWP belt marginally tight by leveraging between the RWP pulley and Crank Pulley with a breaker bar, (not enough leverage and a kludge method).

Just no leverage point anywhere for this pump as located on the VP 5.0L Ford. And having the two bolts adjustable on RWP, which one should you pivot on? I am thinking the only way is to get a 6ft hardwood staff and leverage between the pulleys. If there is a preferred method to tightening this type of pump, I'm clueless how you are supposed to leverage.

I'm looking into converting to a front mounted crankshaft type of RWP, but kits only seem to come for the Chevy blocks.

Any other ideas to try greatly appreciated.

 

[harojs]

Tried this - too long

https://www.supco.com/web/supco_live/products/BJ10.html

Going to try this next ( as soon as I can get out of quarantine ) - it is a bit shorter

https://www.ctatools.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1220

 

[QBhoy]

I used to have to stop my old 4.3 VP belt slipping a couple times a year. Used a long screwdriver between alternator and alternator bracket with both bolts loose remember

 

[harojs]

My problem is with the Seawater pump v-belt tensioning on the 5.0L where the pump is the older style, and not mounted on the crankshaft balancer.

 

[kenny nunez]

Sometimes I have used channelock pliers with one jaw against the end of the slotted adjusting strut and the other on the raised boss on the alternator while squeezing and tighten the bolt. You can get a lot of leverage doing it that way, you just have careful not to pinch your fingers if the pliers slip.

 

[harojs]

SOLVED - The small belt spreader below worked perfectly! It is actually a Toyota tool. It did not sit down into the pulley V channels, but did rest on the pulley rims enough to get purchase and I was able to comfortably wrench out the spreader to the tension I wanted, and then leisurely wrench down my water pump bolts to 35 ft lbs. Great spreader for 2-3 inch pulley gaps. Consider using a half-length open wrench when expanding.

https://www.ctatools.com/index.php?r...roduct_id=1220

 

[bruceb58]

I Just pull the pump over by hand. It doesn't need nor do you want it very tight if you want the bearings to last in the pump. I can actually pull it tighter than I really want it.