floppy a/c belt
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown,WV USA
floppy a/c belt
All,
I spent the last 2 weeks going through the fuel & cooling systems on my 78 Pace Car. I also replaced the A/C compressor and had the system recharged with the 134 stuff.
The good news is that during a 100 mile road trip yesterday the car never went over the 200 degree mark- neither in traffic nor in stop and go driving.
In addition, the a/c blows nice and cold, but today I heard a sound that was very concerning- it sounding like the compressor bearing but upon closer examination it was actually the sound of the belt hitting the bottom belt guide- it only happens once in a while but it does hit the belt guide. Because the tension on the upper part of the belt seems ok, I am a bit leary to simply tighten it more.
Anyone experience a floppy a/c belt (the longer run on the bottom)?
Dan
I spent the last 2 weeks going through the fuel & cooling systems on my 78 Pace Car. I also replaced the A/C compressor and had the system recharged with the 134 stuff.
The good news is that during a 100 mile road trip yesterday the car never went over the 200 degree mark- neither in traffic nor in stop and go driving.
In addition, the a/c blows nice and cold, but today I heard a sound that was very concerning- it sounding like the compressor bearing but upon closer examination it was actually the sound of the belt hitting the bottom belt guide- it only happens once in a while but it does hit the belt guide. Because the tension on the upper part of the belt seems ok, I am a bit leary to simply tighten it more.
Anyone experience a floppy a/c belt (the longer run on the bottom)?
Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Jeez, oldalaskaman, why don't ya let someone else get a word in edgewise, huh?
If the belt is flopping around like that, it needs to be tightened up a little bit. Sometimes a new belt will stretch just a little bit. If you don't tighten it up, it will wear out faster, from the flopping around. You don't need to go crazy, just enough to get it to stop flopping. Let us know how it works out for ya, OK? Remember: Don't lighten up, tighten up! Good luck!
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
If the belt is flopping around like that, it needs to be tightened up a little bit. Sometimes a new belt will stretch just a little bit. If you don't tighten it up, it will wear out faster, from the flopping around. You don't need to go crazy, just enough to get it to stop flopping. Let us know how it works out for ya, OK? Remember: Don't lighten up, tighten up! Good luck!
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown,WV USA
floppy a/c belt
Any suggestions on how tight to make these- I do not want to screw the a/c compressor bearing up. Currently, on the top of the belt there is about 1/4 inch of deflection. I will snug it a little more to see what happens.
Thanks all!
Dan
Thanks all!
Dan
Jeez, oldalaskaman, why don't ya let someone else get a word in edgewise, huh?
If the belt is flopping around like that, it needs to be tightened up a little bit. Sometimes a new belt will stretch just a little bit. If you don't tighten it up, it will wear out faster, from the flopping around. You don't need to go crazy, just enough to get it to stop flopping. Let us know how it works out for ya, OK? Remember: Don't lighten up, tighten up! Good luck!
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
If the belt is flopping around like that, it needs to be tightened up a little bit. Sometimes a new belt will stretch just a little bit. If you don't tighten it up, it will wear out faster, from the flopping around. You don't need to go crazy, just enough to get it to stop flopping. Let us know how it works out for ya, OK? Remember: Don't lighten up, tighten up! Good luck!
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
With a 1/4 deflection your Beth is tight.
the lower belt guard it most likely bent up or adjusted wrong. There's a bolt under neath that will let you swivel it up and down or just bend it. It just a thin piece of sheet metal...
the lower belt guard it most likely bent up or adjusted wrong. There's a bolt under neath that will let you swivel it up and down or just bend it. It just a thin piece of sheet metal...
Last edited by hugie82; Jun 4, 2012 at 09:45 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Tighten it until the belt snaps, then back off just a little bit.
Seriously, if you can only get about 1/4" of deflection from the belt, it is plenty tight, I would go with what hugie82 says. Make sure the pulleys are properly aligned. I don't know why a nice, tight belt would "flop around".
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Seriously, if you can only get about 1/4" of deflection from the belt, it is plenty tight, I would go with what hugie82 says. Make sure the pulleys are properly aligned. I don't know why a nice, tight belt would "flop around".
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Last edited by scottyp99; Jun 4, 2012 at 11:26 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
tight on top, pulled side....loose on the bottom,still needs to be snugged up, 1/4" deflection on both, adjusted correctly, I've done this 'stuff' over 40 years, still learning , always wonder why others aren't. hope this helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
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All,
I spent the last 2 weeks going through the fuel & cooling systems on my 78 Pace Car. I also replaced the A/C compressor and had the system recharged with the 134 stuff.
The good news is that during a 100 mile road trip yesterday the car never went over the 200 degree mark- neither in traffic nor in stop and go driving.
In addition, the a/c blows nice and cold, but today I heard a sound that was very concerning- it sounding like the compressor bearing but upon closer examination it was actually the sound of the belt hitting the bottom belt guide- it only happens once in a while but it does hit the belt guide. Because the tension on the upper part of the belt seems ok, I am a bit leary to simply tighten it more.
Anyone experience a floppy a/c belt (the longer run on the bottom)?
Dan
I spent the last 2 weeks going through the fuel & cooling systems on my 78 Pace Car. I also replaced the A/C compressor and had the system recharged with the 134 stuff.
The good news is that during a 100 mile road trip yesterday the car never went over the 200 degree mark- neither in traffic nor in stop and go driving.
In addition, the a/c blows nice and cold, but today I heard a sound that was very concerning- it sounding like the compressor bearing but upon closer examination it was actually the sound of the belt hitting the bottom belt guide- it only happens once in a while but it does hit the belt guide. Because the tension on the upper part of the belt seems ok, I am a bit leary to simply tighten it more.
Anyone experience a floppy a/c belt (the longer run on the bottom)?
Dan
I am having the same problem with my 82, recently replaced the compressor and a new (replacement) DAYCO TOP COG 17555 A/C belt.
Length is 55.5", while the owners manual has the stock length listed as 56".
Yes the top of the belt is tight, but the bottom of the belt does hit the belt guide when in "D", and you can see it wobble. In "N" or "P" does not wobble as much. Have not adjusted the belt guide as of yet, and there is no more adjustment left for me to adjust on the A/C bracket. I have tighten it 3 times. I also shimmed out the compressor, as the pullies were slightly out of alignment
I am thinking of trying a belt an inch shorter than what is on there now.
And my alternator belt is also at the end of its adjustment, after retightening a few times, may go with a shorter belt there too.
Did you ever get yours adjusted properly? If so, what did you end up doing? thanks for any info.............................Tom