AC Compressor Pulley Rim Came Off
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AC Compressor Pulley Rim Came Off
Driving today when I heard a loud tapping. The entire AC compressor pulley rim came off/loose and was banging against the body of the compressor with every rotation. Can I just remove some screws and put the rim back or is it likely there were some bearings/inertial rings that grenaded the whole clutch? Has this happened to anyone else?
Also how do I remove the AC compressor belt? I guess I have no choice but get a special tool to remove power steering pulley/belt first?
Also how do I remove the AC compressor belt? I guess I have no choice but get a special tool to remove power steering pulley/belt first?
Last edited by Mikey1339; May 20, 2021 at 07:56 PM.
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If it were me, I would be replacing that compressor. Also, Special tool to remove power steering belt??? I've had the power steering belt on and off of my 77 more times than I can remember, lossen front and rear lower mount bolts. loosen up upper rear adjusting bolt. swing pump towards block. remove belt. a ratchet, a socket and a 9/16ths combination wrench. nothing at all Special.
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Oh ok cool. For some reason I was thinking the power steering belt required you to remove the pulley and that the PS pump didn't pivot...
Pulley/Clutch assembly seems to have one central bolt and press fitted parts, but the pulley rim seems to be a separate piece that just has little hex head bolts that hold it to the rest of the clutch assembly like it is a "metal skin".
I don't know how to tighten the pulley rim screws. The screws seem to have metal tamper guards that have to be folded aside (like the smog pump bolts with the metal strips). I can't seem to figure out out to fold the tamper guards away other than like smashing them with a flathead screw driver and hammer
.
Interestingly with the pulley rim being loose I can slide it back to its normal position and then the whole pulley clutch spins freeley (no binding) and is unlocked as it should be (car off, ac off). I was really expecting the clutch to be stuck engaged... maybe if I put the pulley rim back in place everything will just work?
Pulley/Clutch assembly seems to have one central bolt and press fitted parts, but the pulley rim seems to be a separate piece that just has little hex head bolts that hold it to the rest of the clutch assembly like it is a "metal skin".
I don't know how to tighten the pulley rim screws. The screws seem to have metal tamper guards that have to be folded aside (like the smog pump bolts with the metal strips). I can't seem to figure out out to fold the tamper guards away other than like smashing them with a flathead screw driver and hammer
.Interestingly with the pulley rim being loose I can slide it back to its normal position and then the whole pulley clutch spins freeley (no binding) and is unlocked as it should be (car off, ac off). I was really expecting the clutch to be stuck engaged... maybe if I put the pulley rim back in place everything will just work?
Last edited by Mikey1339; May 21, 2021 at 07:35 AM.
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PO said it had been converted over to R-134A (I don't believe PO on most stuff)... I have no idea really. Looking at how original the car is (not in a good way)... It may be R12. How would I know?
Update:
I figure out how to release tabs/bolts to pulley rim (flathead screw driver 90* down, rubber mallet, then 11 mm box wrench on bolts). I am 90% confident these just came loose and let the pulley rim come ajar (bonking bolt on compressor to make god awful sounds). If it stops raining then maybe I can confirm everything still works
. I think it was all because I had the cable too tight (recently put AC brackets/spacers back together properly as PO had a few spacers in the "forgotten parts" pile.
Update:
I figure out how to release tabs/bolts to pulley rim (flathead screw driver 90* down, rubber mallet, then 11 mm box wrench on bolts). I am 90% confident these just came loose and let the pulley rim come ajar (bonking bolt on compressor to make god awful sounds). If it stops raining then maybe I can confirm everything still works
. I think it was all because I had the cable too tight (recently put AC brackets/spacers back together properly as PO had a few spacers in the "forgotten parts" pile.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,668
Likes: 2,473
From: Indiana
PO said it had been converted over to R-134A (I don't believe PO on most stuff)... I have no idea really. Looking at how original the car is (not in a good way)... It may be R12. How would I know?
Update:
I figure out how to release tabs/bolts to pulley rim (flathead screw driver 90* down, rubber mallet, then 11 mm box wrench on bolts). I am 90% confident these just came loose and let the pulley rim come ajar (bonking bolt on compressor to make god awful sounds). If it stops raining then maybe I can confirm everything still works. I think it was all because I had the cable too tight (recently put AC brackets/spacers back together properly as PO had a few spacers in the "forgotten parts" pile.
Update:
I figure out how to release tabs/bolts to pulley rim (flathead screw driver 90* down, rubber mallet, then 11 mm box wrench on bolts). I am 90% confident these just came loose and let the pulley rim come ajar (bonking bolt on compressor to make god awful sounds). If it stops raining then maybe I can confirm everything still works
. I think it was all because I had the cable too tight (recently put AC brackets/spacers back together properly as PO had a few spacers in the "forgotten parts" pile.supposed to change fittings and label if converted... but you don't know if they didnt
Last edited by interpon; May 21, 2021 at 03:19 PM.
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