SunnyJim302

I just wanted to know why somebody would take off the belt tensioner on a 5.0L Mustang? When i bought my 87 5.0 LX, the tensioner was already taken off, and now the belt squeels when i rev the car because of this, and i was going to put a new tensioner on...but is there a reason someone would not want one on?

horatio102

I can think of two reasons.
1) It broke and the previous owner was too cheap to buy a new one (common with Subarus if you don't know what you're doing when you go to adjust it)
2) They couldn't find the right size belt and had to take it off to get their new belt to fit.

If it were my car, I'd throw it back on.

SunnyJim302

Yeah, i was going to put it on anyway...unless it was taken off for a good reason...which it wasn't.

SunnyJim302

Is it something that is difficult to install - i mean, retensioning the belt? is there a certain way...the main install is simple - there's a bolt to screw in beside the alternator, but the retensioning....how do you do that?

makarovboy

I don't believe you have to adjust the tension sunnyjim. After you get the stock belt on and the tensioner installed, it's just a matter of getting the pulley clear so it will go on the alternator. That's the easiest spot I've found to get final portion of the belt mounted. You just use a socket and breaker bar on the pulley nut and pull against the tension, which raises the pulley. Get the belt on the alternator and slowly release the pressure you're exerting against it, and it will come in contact with and tension the belt.

SunnyJim302

Okay thanks!