Serpentine Belt replacement

[igeorge]

Hi All

I'm having a hell of a time getting my replacement belt back on - is there a special method to pull back the tensioner pulley, or something else that can be slackened off?

I'm running out of DIY words!

Tried to back off the tensioner, but the belt is to constrained by the adjacent pulleys to pop back....

Any tips gladly accepted!

Cheers
Ian

(M400 BTW)

[The devil]

I used a 3/8 drive with an extension slipped over the end, they are a bugger though, happy days

[MadMacMcMad]

The devil said:

I used a 3/8 drive with an extension slipped over the end, they are a bugger though, happy days

yes as above and pull the tensioner to it's max. If it still wont go on, then with a bit of wood and either a trolley or bottle jack tension the belt enough to stretch a mm or two.
Then try again. Worked for me.

[TuxMan]

Put the belt around all the pulleys but leave it off the small guide wheel it has no edge on it or groves so it's easy to slip the belt in once you have un-tensioned it ..... Simples :-) :-)

[leeshell]

The small smooth guide pulley is off a fiesta btw, just had it changed cos it was squeaking.

I levered clockwise to allow the belt to go on, easier with two people

[igeorge]

Thanks guys!

Ian

[igeorge]

FYI idler wheel part no is Ford YS4E19A216BA - not same as 2.5L one mentioned on nobleparts...

Ian

[The devil]

the tension is preset on the pulley

[Zoobeef]

Is that part number above still the right part number for the little guide pulley on the 3 litre?
Cheers

[Bill NobleUS206]

I changed the serpentine belt on my M400 for the first time this winter, and must agree that it's not an easy task. The new belt by the same P/N just wouldn't go. Thought about prewarming it in the oven, but before trying that, the goal was achieved by notching the tensioner arm where it hits the limit bar. A Dremel with reaming bit did the job nicely. The notch is between 1/8 and 1/4 inch deep (I haven't measured it) -- just enough for the belt to stretch onto the alternator while rotating the crank with a breaker bar and socket. See picture.

In case it matters, My M400 is one of the few ordered from 1g w/o AC, so my belt only drives PS pump and alternator; therefore it's a little shorter than most belts, and possibly a little less foregiving.

The reason for changing my old belt was that I noticed a few small rocks had managed to plant themselves in groves and were smashed deeply into and in a few cases entirely through the belt by the pulleys. Have others seen this?

By the way, I'm new to PistonHeads today, and this is my first post. Have been a member of Noble-Rossion since 2010, and a Noble-Speed forum member since last month. I am pleased to join this distinguished group.