[Help]: Accessory Misalignment
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,381
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
[Help]: Accessory Misalignment
Help me out here guys and gals. Upon starting up the car tonight (finally!) it was quicky discovered that for some reason my AC is no completely sligned with the other accessories. This causes the belt to jump forward and crawl off of the pully onto the AC clutch somewhat. Not good.
Any quick ideas on what could cause this? As far as I know I bolted it all back on as it came off. The only difference is that the rear brace cannot be used with the Hooker 2149 headers.
I'll check it with a straightedge tomorrow, but I am thinking that the AC is twisted slightly inwards towards the waterpump. Perhaps a washer or two could cure this.
Help!
Any quick ideas on what could cause this? As far as I know I bolted it all back on as it came off. The only difference is that the rear brace cannot be used with the Hooker 2149 headers.
I'll check it with a straightedge tomorrow, but I am thinking that the AC is twisted slightly inwards towards the waterpump. Perhaps a washer or two could cure this.
Help!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 3
From: Lafayette IN
Re: [Help]: Accessory Misalignment (scorp508)
Couple things.
Make sure that the hose clamp for the heater hose coming off the top left (looking from front) of the water pump is not smashed between the bracket, the clamp, and whatever else.
I have the same problem with the belt riding fine for 2 seconds then slipping towards the firewall one groove, making my 6 rib belt a 5 rib as it rode on the AC clutch. It was actually because of a weak tensioner. As you have tension on the tensioner itself, slowly relax it and make sure the tensioner pulley doesn't fowl itself to the side as it makes contact with the belt. This happened to me, and it had been fine for 18 years...then all the sudden one day, it just started chewing the belt.
I looked at the second to last update and one of the pics shows a definite misalignment...
Make sure that the hose clamp for the heater hose coming off the top left (looking from front) of the water pump is not smashed between the bracket, the clamp, and whatever else.
I have the same problem with the belt riding fine for 2 seconds then slipping towards the firewall one groove, making my 6 rib belt a 5 rib as it rode on the AC clutch. It was actually because of a weak tensioner. As you have tension on the tensioner itself, slowly relax it and make sure the tensioner pulley doesn't fowl itself to the side as it makes contact with the belt. This happened to me, and it had been fine for 18 years...then all the sudden one day, it just started chewing the belt.
I looked at the second to last update and one of the pics shows a definite misalignment...
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Re: [Help]: Accessory Misalignment (scorp508)
Scorp...the only thing I can think of is that the non-use of the rear bracket has changed the geometry of the compressor in relation to the rest of the pulleys enough to cause a problem. This may be a trial and error session in the making, but give it a shot shimming out the opposite side with some washers. If that makes it worse, you may have to fabricate something to make the rear bracket functional again. Try measuring the distance of the A/C pulley from the block in relation to the other ones and see what you come up with. It sounds like it's sitting at an angle. Sooner or later, it will throw or mangle the belt. Corvette.....it's not just a job....it's an adventure. Best O' Luck to you . :smash:
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,381
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Re: [Help]: Accessory Misalignment (shera)
Brian,
Are you sure that it is Misalignment and not that you need the shorter belt now that you have a smaller crank pulley on?
Are you sure that it is Misalignment and not that you need the shorter belt now that you have a smaller crank pulley on?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: [Help]: Accessory Misalignment (scorp508)
Do you think this could be off due to when you removed the air down pipe off the front of the pump? Remember I asked you about that but wasnt sure if you needed washers?Just wondering.
Also check the coolant hose that runs through the brackets inside for binding and also be sure the fuel lines didnt get caught up in between something.
Keep us posted what you find,hope its something simple.
:)
Also check the coolant hose that runs through the brackets inside for binding and also be sure the fuel lines didnt get caught up in between something.
Keep us posted what you find,hope its something simple.
:)
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,381
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Re: [Help]: Accessory Misalignment (Bill's86Coupe)
Do you think this could be off due to when you removed the air down pipe off the front of the pump? Remember I asked you about that but wasnt sure if you needed washers?Just wondering.
I know that no washers came off with it. So none went abck on.
[Modified by scorp508, 10:44 AM 5/16/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 0
From: Lockport NY
Re: [Help]: Accessory Misalignment (scorp508)
When I first bought my '86, the belt always tracked to one edge of the pulleys (all of them). When I finally took the aluminum-cradle bracket for the compressor completely off, I found it was cracked in three places. Completely broke. This allowed the bracket to bend in when tensioner pressure was applied, and the belt was tracking to the inside edge.
The bracket was still available 4 years ago. You can't really see the problem until you take it completely off and clean it.
The bracket was still available 4 years ago. You can't really see the problem until you take it completely off and clean it.
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: East Sandwich MA
Re: [Help]: Accessory Misalignment (scorp508)
Scorp,
Would it be that the heads that you have are for 1988+ that has a different compressor and bracket. The pads on the heads might just be at a different angle than the 1987 heads for the compressor braket. Just a thought.
Would it be that the heads that you have are for 1988+ that has a different compressor and bracket. The pads on the heads might just be at a different angle than the 1987 heads for the compressor braket. Just a thought.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: [Help]: Accessory Misalignment (scorp508)
Scrop, if the pulley is tilted I think you need to form a brace to stablize it; it's too far out or in it's likely due to the #113 heads having different mounts as the '88 A/C compressor differed from '87.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: (scorp508)
Hey dude,
I was talking about the silencer pipe with the filter that goes in front of the waterpump.I couldnt remember for sure if removing that would cause the brackets to misalign or be off.
I know there isnt any washers,but the pipe itself where it mounts(flat part) is like one long washer on its own but cant remember for sure if it affects alignment of the a/c bracket.
Its also possible you may be able to install some washers between the water pump and the a/c bracket where the bracket slides over the studs to help even out.Or washers between the head acess. holes and bracket.
Just ideas.Cant tell for sure what to do without being able to see the problem.
:)
I was talking about the silencer pipe with the filter that goes in front of the waterpump.I couldnt remember for sure if removing that would cause the brackets to misalign or be off.
I know there isnt any washers,but the pipe itself where it mounts(flat part) is like one long washer on its own but cant remember for sure if it affects alignment of the a/c bracket.
Its also possible you may be able to install some washers between the water pump and the a/c bracket where the bracket slides over the studs to help even out.Or washers between the head acess. holes and bracket.
Just ideas.Cant tell for sure what to do without being able to see the problem.
:)