Cartek bracket users: info needed
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 6
From: Houston Texas
Cartek bracket users: info needed
Hi guys,
Bought these brackets used and was sent a 90% complete kit. I've managed to source just about all the bolts, except the hardware needed for the tensioner pulley.
Can anyone tell me exactly what I'm missing from bolting this pulley to the tensioner itself?
Bought these brackets used and was sent a 90% complete kit. I've managed to source just about all the bolts, except the hardware needed for the tensioner pulley.
Can anyone tell me exactly what I'm missing from bolting this pulley to the tensioner itself?
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well I had to ask... I was going to buy their bracket awhile back when I got rid of the stuff I had and neither I nor a vendor could get them to pick up the phone... after already dealing with a company like that this is not something I wanted to do again so I went with a&a which has been nothing short of fantastic so I'm kinda glad it happened like that... I hope somehow you can get what you need, worst case scenario you can sell it and buy another bracket elsewhere... it sucks having to do it that way but not being able to drive the car sucks worse
Last edited by StingrayRebel; Apr 30, 2016 at 05:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 6
From: Houston Texas
I was pushed toward Cartek by probably the same vendor as you 
.
The product themselves is nothing short of impressive, but the customer service is lacking. It seems to be a common occurrence in this field. I'll be the first to admit that I'm pretty green in the performance auto industry, but it amazes me how some of these companies operate.
I have other A&A products and reached out to them to see if they would sell me the hardware kit to their tensioner and was essentially told "unless you ship us your whole bracket, No". That kind of bummed me out as well.
I guess if it comes down to it, I can build something one-off, was just hoping to find a simpler alternative. I really do want to keep the Cartek bracket vs the A&A for hood clearance.
The search continues
.The product themselves is nothing short of impressive, but the customer service is lacking. It seems to be a common occurrence in this field. I'll be the first to admit that I'm pretty green in the performance auto industry, but it amazes me how some of these companies operate.
I have other A&A products and reached out to them to see if they would sell me the hardware kit to their tensioner and was essentially told "unless you ship us your whole bracket, No". That kind of bummed me out as well.
I guess if it comes down to it, I can build something one-off, was just hoping to find a simpler alternative. I really do want to keep the Cartek bracket vs the A&A for hood clearance.
The search continues
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 844
Likes: 46
From: Southaven MS
Don't be discouraged, you have the best bracket available for a procharger (yes, I've tried them all except Dallas Performance). The bolt your missing is not a specialty piece that I can recall. I can't remember if its a cap head bolt or a standard hex top bolt. I couldn't get a picture of the bolt on my car with the belt in the way. Just buy a hardened bolt that fits the tensioner and you should be good to go. I'm spinning an F1A-94 to max impeller speed with no problems whatsoever.
Last edited by redcycle13; May 1, 2016 at 08:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 6
From: Houston Texas
Excuse my terminology (just a dumb motorcycle guy building a car), but there seems to be something more missing than just the bolt. Either it's a shouldered bolt/washer, or I'm missing me some sort of arbor piece. The pulley ID is quite a bit larger than the thread size on the tensioner.
Maybe I can match something up from the fastenal catalog.
Maybe I can match something up from the fastenal catalog.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 6
From: Houston Texas
Well, I was able to get a pulley that would work...or so I thought. Turns out it contacts the balancer pretty badly, and won't allow me to bolt up the tensioner.
Can anyone measure the side of their tensioner pulley for me, please?
I can't see a reasonably safe way to load the tensioner enough to clear the balancer, and get the bolts started.
Ideas?
Attachment 47985974
Attachment 47985973
Can anyone measure the side of their tensioner pulley for me, please?
I can't see a reasonably safe way to load the tensioner enough to clear the balancer, and get the bolts started.
Ideas?
Attachment 47985974
Attachment 47985973
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Well, I was able to get a pulley that would work...or so I thought. Turns out it contacts the balancer pretty badly, and won't allow me to bolt up the tensioner.
Can anyone measure the side of their tensioner pulley for me, please?
I can't see a reasonably safe way to load the tensioner enough to clear the balancer, and get the bolts started.
Ideas?
Attachment 47985974
Attachment 47985973
Can anyone measure the side of their tensioner pulley for me, please?
I can't see a reasonably safe way to load the tensioner enough to clear the balancer, and get the bolts started.
Ideas?
Attachment 47985974
Attachment 47985973
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 6
From: Houston Texas
Must be this stupid app I use on my phone to get to the forums.
I think I've figured it out, but if the belt snaps, the pulley on the tensioner will touch down on the balancer...
Is Gates Fleetrunner belts still a good option?
I think I've figured it out, but if the belt snaps, the pulley on the tensioner will touch down on the balancer...
Is Gates Fleetrunner belts still a good option?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 844
Likes: 46
From: Southaven MS
I happen to take my bracket off this past week, and there is a standoff that the pulley rides on, but it could be made to work with a piece of aluminum dowel drilled to accept the correct sized bolt and cut to length.
If you have an oversize balancer the tensioner pulley will contact the balancer without a belt on. You should still be able to get a bolt started in the bracket and pull the bracket together.
I would continue to call Cartek multiple times a day until they answer so you could buy the correct machined standoff.
If you have an oversize balancer the tensioner pulley will contact the balancer without a belt on. You should still be able to get a bolt started in the bracket and pull the bracket together.
I would continue to call Cartek multiple times a day until they answer so you could buy the correct machined standoff.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 6
From: Houston Texas
Thanks red, good to know what the original setup actually is. I had no idea what I was even looking for. I bought the brackets used, got kinda janked on a 90% kit and some pullies the seller thought would work.
Long story short, after 18 months of on-and-off calling Cartek multiple times a week, leaving voicemails, and not reaching a live person a single time, I've given up hope on ever getting support from them. Thankfully, another machinist stepped in and really took care of me.
The pulley he fabbed up is fantastic, but since I have an overdrive balancer, it does contact . I had to unbolt the headunit bracket except for one bolt to use as a pivot, bolt on the tensioner, then leverage the whole unit into place. It makes install a bear, but I think it will work out in the long run.
This is my first time building a car to this level, and it seems 90% of the work involved is getting different parts to interface with each other so everything plays nice.
Long story short, after 18 months of on-and-off calling Cartek multiple times a week, leaving voicemails, and not reaching a live person a single time, I've given up hope on ever getting support from them. Thankfully, another machinist stepped in and really took care of me.
The pulley he fabbed up is fantastic, but since I have an overdrive balancer, it does contact . I had to unbolt the headunit bracket except for one bolt to use as a pivot, bolt on the tensioner, then leverage the whole unit into place. It makes install a bear, but I think it will work out in the long run.
This is my first time building a car to this level, and it seems 90% of the work involved is getting different parts to interface with each other so everything plays nice.