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  #1  
Old 04-07-2003, 07:33 PM
turbodiesel
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Can't get the belt on!

Got everything together, now I can't get my serpentine belt on.. I am fighting with about 1".

I routed it correctly and I tried to get the last part on the power steering pump pulley.. no way,no how can't do it. Then I tried taking off the water pump pulley, putting the belt on it, then trying to put the pulley on the shaft, that isn't working either. The tensioner is fully down to where the roller is touching the crankshaft pulley.

I had the same problem getting the old belt on when I changed my alternator but managed to get it 50% on and I just spun the engine and it caught.. I thought maybe this was due to the failing tensioner but now there is a brand new tensioner and idler pulley on here.. so I don't think I have the wrong belt.

Am I doing something wrong? What's the trick?

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  #2  
Old 04-07-2003, 07:53 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 699
Dear turbodiesel:

The trick is to put a deep socket on the big nut in front of the tensioner's pulley and use a ratchet drive to pull it to the left (facing the engine from the front) so that you can fit the serpentine belt over it.

Hope this helps.

Eric
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  #3  
Old 04-07-2003, 07:55 PM
sixto's Avatar
smoke gets in your eyes
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Eastern TN
Posts: 20,841
Ribs to pulley except around the tensioner. Pretty hard to get the routing wrong unlike on an M103 with air pump.

Is it a new belt? Maybe it's not the right belt.

Did you ever get to see Donnie's 210?

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD
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  #4  
Old 04-07-2003, 08:27 PM
turbodiesel
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Eric, which nut? I don't see anything that would help me. Can you describe further please.. I'm going crazy.

Sixto: yes it's a new belt but it's the same size as the worn one I just took off. No, I never personally looked at his E300 still waiting for a few more pictures.
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  #5  
Old 04-08-2003, 02:37 AM
sixto's Avatar
smoke gets in your eyes
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Eastern TN
Posts: 20,841
Right in the center of the tensioner idler is a nut. There might be a plastic cap covering it.

But if you say you have the tensioner to the crank pulley I can't see how much further you can release the idler.

My memory is hazy but I think what I did is put the spring on after the belt was in place.

Between the SDL, SE and family minivan, I've worked on more serpentine belts than anyone should.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD
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  #6  
Old 04-08-2003, 03:13 AM
turbodiesel
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I just wrestled on the old belt.. I couldn't get the new one on for the life of me. The spring nor the shock was on when I was trying this.. I think the idler pulley was as far down as it could go.. maybe my belt is just not quite right but I did have to struggle a bit with the old one too.. how easy did your belt go on sixto?
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  #7  
Old 04-08-2003, 03:41 AM
sixto's Avatar
smoke gets in your eyes
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Eastern TN
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I still have my fingers and I'm by no means muscular. It was a new belt because I didn't like how the Gates the car came with had segmented ribs rather than continuous ribs like dealer belts. I vaguely remember a struggle at the power steering pulley.

If the idler doesn't have a lip, it might be easier to set the belt on all the ribbed pulleys and force the smooth side of the belt onto the idler while turning the crank.

I know on the SE I tried to turn the engine to get the belt to engage the power steeting pulley and ended up tearing chunks from the belt so I wouldn't recommend that.

Might it be an overcenter deal where the idler is not at its most relaxed position when it's against the crank pulley?

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD
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  #8  
Old 04-08-2003, 08:02 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 122
Turbodiesel,
I replaced my belt a few weeks ago. There are two bolts which hold the shock mount in place, one on the top and one near the bottom with a retainer bracket. With one of the two bolts in place, (I apologize, I do not remember which one I had inserted first) I installed the belt and then used a bar inserted in the hole at the top of the shock bracket and pulled the bracket into position to allow for the installation of the second bolt. It is a relatively easy job when you use the bolt as a pivot for the shock mount. I hope this made sense, if your not sure, stop by and I will show you how it's done.
Tom
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  #9  
Old 04-08-2003, 08:50 PM
turbodiesel
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Tom, I tried everything including using every curse word I know trying to get it on but it won't go. Now my old belt is on there and squeeling because there is no texture left on the top surface.

Is it possible I can stop by one night this week? Can you throw my belt on with the fan, radiator etc all still intact? I'm just so tired of messing with it, I know i'll have the same problems if I try again.. I'll compensate you for your time.
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  #10  
Old 04-08-2003, 09:12 PM
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Location: New Jersey
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Turbodiesel,
Any night this week would be good. Do you still have my number, give me a call.
Tom
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  #11  
Old 04-08-2003, 09:18 PM
turbodiesel
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I'm thinking maybe thursday or friday evening if that's ok. I have it somewhere but don't know where your number is.. can I get it again? What time do you get home?
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  #12  
Old 08-17-2003, 08:16 PM
dmorrison's Avatar
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Location: Colleyville, Texas
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Want to add to this post for futrue reference. I just had the serpentine belt break on the 86 SDL. My wife was driving it and the belt broke in the driveway as she was turning the car around. This car has never stranded us. Its been great. However it would have been nice if it waited a couple of weeks. Saturday our daughter goes to college, she drive the car, and then were getting rid of it. So I just spent the latter part of the afternoon and $28 replacing the belt.
I found that the service maual says you can't remove the fan/clutch assembly without removing the radiator. You can do it without removing the radiator but there are a few tricks.

Your probably going to get the hands a little scratched up
To remove the fan blade/clutch assembly you have to get a small 8mm allen piece for a small socket set. 1/4 drive is best. ( or a small piece of 8mm allen wrench, about 1 inch would work)
If the belt is broken, as mine was, you will have to cut a piece of old belt long enough to fit around the fan pulley. Then use vise grips to clamp down on the ends of old belt. Have about 1 inch of each end so the vice grips can grab them. The pulley will rotate when you try to loosen the 8mm bolt that is holding the clutch/fan assembly on. The vice grips/old belt set up allows you to hold it to loosen the bolt. If your old belt is still on the car, you will just loosen the 8mm bolt.
The reason for the short 8mm allen socket, is if you use a ratchet/allen-socket to loosen the bolt, it will back out so much that you can't get the bolt/ratchet/allensocket assembly out of the radiator/engine opening. Its to long.
So you use the ratchet/allen assembly to loosen the bolt then before it is out so much that it is blocked. You detach the 8mm allen socket and use small vice grips to hold it. Or if you can you can just hold the socket in your hand. I found this was difficult, the bolt was to tight, and using the vice grips was better.
Remove the fan/clutch assembly and the fan shroud.
Loosen the tensioner. The bolt that goes throught the black plastic block. Then unbolt the shock top mount bolt. Remove the shock bolt including the metal plate that holds the black block in position. It will be easier if you unbolt the wire/vacuum tube assembly at the top of the tensioner and get it out of the way.
Then place a round tube or shaft in the hole at the top of the black plastic and rotate the assembly towards the drivers side.
Route the belt through the two large pulleys, ribbed side out. and loop it around the tensioner. Now route it over the power steeting pump, the AC compressor, the crank shaft pully, the fan pully and last the alternator pully.
I found that I had to press down on the tensioner pulley to get the belt to slip on the alternator pulley. Be carefull not to damage the ribbed section that is exposed on the tensioner pulley. I use an old piece of belt and matched the ribbed section to ribbed section. I was able to further push the pulley down to allow the belt to slip on completely.
Attach the tensioner and install the bolts for the tensioner the shock and the wire/vacuum tube harness.

The correct lenght serpentine belt is of course important.
the following is what is listed the the service manual supplement.

With power steering and without AC not usual for a US version
Engine 602-- 2030mm length
Engine 603-- 2080mm lenght

With power steering and AC
Engine 602--2100mm
Engine 603--2145mm
Engine 603.970--2120mm

The layout is attached.

Dave
Attached Thumbnails
Can't get the belt on!-pulley-layout.jpg  
__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Last edited by dmorrison; 08-17-2003 at 08:26 PM.
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  #13  
Old 08-17-2003, 08:35 PM
dmorrison's Avatar
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Colleyville, Texas
Posts: 2,695
The serpintine belt exploded view diagram.

Dave
Attached Thumbnails
Can't get the belt on!-serpintine-belt.jpg  
__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car
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  #14  
Old 08-18-2003, 12:32 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: around Charlotte NC
Posts: 586
replaced belt without removing fan

Folks,

On my 87 SDL I was replacing the A/C compressor a month ago. The new compressor pulley was slightly larger than the one in the car. I tried to strech on the old belt... no luck. Not fully understanding the adjustment process for the belt tensioner, I bought a slightly longer belt.

I was able to remove the old belt and insert the new belt by taking them off all the pulleys then very carefully routing it around between the fan and shroud. Then the normal belt on pulley install and alignment. To reach the last pulley it required moving the tensioner via a large screw driver in the tensioner pry hole.

Chuck
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  #15  
Old 08-20-2003, 03:21 AM
Member since 2000
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Flemington, NJ
Posts: 1,143
I actually had the belt routed slightly wrong.. amazingly the old belt would fit on and work fine.. but the new belt wouldn't. All fixed now.

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