belt tension
 

I've been watching the forum for over a year and just registered!!. Thanks for all of your help. Anyone know how many pounds of tension using a kirket for Vbelts, AC, and power steering 81 300td

Help Belt Tension
 

Anyone know the pounds of tension on V's, powersteering and AC belts. I'm having some difficulty cranking after turning V's to and PS to 70 pnds. AC has no tensioner, broken, but is at 50 pnds. I think I'll back off 10pnds at a time unless someone has a better method. Thanks in advance!!!! I've also read that PS an AC should be roughly half V's?

My belt has had a lot of tension on it recently.

. . . . Oh, I see, you were talking about the belts in your CAR.

A specific answer would require specific information on model and year.

How the heck did I forget that? Have to excuse my while I get a cup of coffee. 1981 300td

For used belts, the service manual calls for 20-25 Kg for the alternator/water pump belts and 40-45 Kg for the power steering and a/c compressor. (1 Kg=2.2 lbs.)

Wow, thought I read the fan, alternator belts should be double the tension of the AC, PS. Thanks for the post. By the way the belts are brand new, bando and conti.

Yup, here is the manual page:

Wow, thanks so much. I could only get 50 pnds tension on Ac belt, broken tensioner. Guess I will have to get a new one. Off to vacuum and fill with R-12, bring on the cold!!!

Twice the belts, half the tension.

For adjustment purposes, a new belt becomes a used belt real fast.

What are some 'rule of thumb' adjustments for the P/S and Alt belts?

Anybody know the deflection?

I know, tango.. use the right tool. I agree.

Have you ever seen a tech use a tensioner? They go by feel, that is what I am wondering. How tight do your belts feel? How much deflection by pressing with just the pointer finger force?

Is the P/S belt too tight if you can rotate the crank along with it?

The deflection in the center is dependent on the distance between the two pulleys. Most people tighten the belts much more than required. The pair of alt. belts will work just fine with 1/2" of deflection at the center of the belts. They will probably work just fine with 3/4" deflection.

The p/s belt is a bit tighter since it's a single belt. Most folks can rotate the crank with the p/s belt, however, I believe that that level of tension is more than required. I can't rotate the crank with the p/s pulley on the SD. The deflection in the center is about 3/8".

The a/c belt is a bit deceiving because of the short distance between the two pulleys. However, the pulleys are huge. The deflection in the center of about 1/4" will work fine.

perfect.

Thank you again. My primary concern was the p/s and over-tensioning b/c of its placement on the crank pulley and the too-familiar crank-nose failures reported here along with the seals on the p/s pump.

good info.