mgmuscari

I'm trying to measure the size for my drive belt and i can't figure out how to safely lift the belt tensioner next to the alternator - how the heck do I lift this thing? The spring is so tight that I can't budge it, even with a wrench.

SonicBlueFiveSlow

Try a breaker bar?

smacked1

need a longer bar than just a wrench, with some leverage and oomph it will move

mgmuscari

a friend suggested this, but i'm worried about damaging it... what's the appropriate point to apply torque to?

SonicBlueFiveSlow

Appropriate place to apply torque? Instead of using a wrench, use the proper sized socket and a breaker bar.

mgmuscari

I'll give that a try tomorrow - there are two hex bolt heads that I can try this on. The one that seems to be 18mm is on the back of the tensioner, attached to the axis of rotation in the middle of the spring. Is this the correct one to torque?

86 5.0L

I use a pipe and wedge it inbetween the base and pulley

mjr46

18 mm socket and a breaker bar...stop being a ***** and put some knads into it!!!

SonicBlueFiveSlow

No, you want the one that is at the end of the tensioner. Pulling back towards the passenger fender will rotate the tensioner up. The one on the back of the tensioner attaches the whole assembly to the bracket.

mgmuscari

Thanks a lot for the advice... I can't seem to find this information elsewhere... I have one concern... won't I loosen that bolt by pulling up on it? Should i point the socket toward the center of the tensioner or away, down toward the ground?