Fan Belt Question (easy)

[User1641]

I changed out my alternator today. I did not have too much trouble getting the fan belt off. However getting this buger back on is proving to be a .....


I pushed the tension lever down as far and hard as I could push it but its still not even close enough for me to get the belt around the pulleys. While looking under neath the pulley tension mechanism it appears as if the tension bar should be able to go down further but its not going down far enough to get the belt back on ..... Any tips, tricks or help would be Greatly appreciated


2000 Ford Ranger v6

 

[93worktruck]

I always pick a non grooved pulley to put on last, its easier to slide on than a grooved one.

 

[fixizin]

Just did this yesterday. If it's not even close then it's not routed correctly. Should be a diagram right there by the hood latch.

If your tensioner is not swinging down as far as you think it should, I seem to remember there's some bracket the WRENCH (esp. an adjustable crescent wrench) can hang up on, but it SEEMS like the tensioner has bottomed. The tensioner CAN swing quite aways past the wear-indicator gauge marks.

I find a 15mm OFFSET box-end wrench is the ticket for the belt tensioner. (Fits a lot of other things on the truck too... buy one.)

The last thing belt should slide on (under) is the smooth upper idler pulley. The only things the back (smooth) side of the belt touches is the tensioner pulley and the idler pulley; everything else gets the grooved side... that may help you see what's "off". (If your belt has no grooves left, time for a new one, LOL.)


PS: Where'd you get the new/reman'd alternator, and how much $$ ?