The idler arm on my 65 289 that takes up the tension on the air con belt has rattled for a few years now. It makes kind of a grinding noise. I have replaced it twice in the past few years, but it still makes that noise. It sounds like the bearing in the idler arm is worn out, but it seems tight as hell. I replaced the compresor a few years ago, and it blows cold air. It's not the belt slipping, it's the bearing, or something. The belt itself has a lot of travel length before it hits the pulley, and the belt seems to have just the right give to it, but it seems to me to be a long way for the belt to travel before it hits a pulley. This seems to be a fairly common problem with these old air con systems. Other than throwing in a whole new compressor and system, what can I do to eliminate that noise? Thankee gang.

 

glen,
real quick, which ideler arm is it? the upper one directly next to the comressor, or the lower one underneath it??
?

 

It's the only one going from the compressor. It's located right in the middle of the engine up front. This is not a good pic of it, but may give you an idea.

 

thats weird, mine has two of them that came with the car...huh no its very possible, that there is too much stress on that pulley, and its wearing it down sooner than you need or want it to. I would try slipping a new a/c belt on it, and get a new ideler pulley. I have an original Ford from a parts car i got a while ago, i dont know if its any good, it spins freely. Usually when you tighten up the belt with those old cars, it has to be just right or it'll start to squeal and chirp. it sound like a stupid answer, but my dad always said, think of the easiest sloution, before you get into the big situation.

 

Like I said, it is not the belt, and I have replacd the idler arm pulley twice now in two years. There has to be a "fix" for this ongoing problem that a lot of us old 289 vintage guys are facing with our vintage air con systems.

 

it might be a copressor, clutch pulley problem, because mine does make a little bit of noise, but nothing to noticable. Im wondering if those clutch pulleys just wear out, or need tune ups on them once in awhile. I apologize i cant be more helpful on this issue, i guess i cant fix a problem ive never encountered before. sorry glen

 

no problem, I'll get her fixed.