How to Adjust New Belt Tensioner?
 

Greetings once again,

I just replaced the serpentine belt and the tensioner on my '86 300E. My old tensioner had a foil label with an adjustment scale with hash marks on it. It was supposed to be adjusted to the 7th mark on a car with A/C. The new one is pictured below.

Do I adjust the tension so the indicator points to the peak of the ramp, or to the last raised bar? My car has A/C if it makes a difference (I haven't seen one that doesn't yet)

The width of the scale is a lot shorter on the new one also. Do I still start with the indicator at the first raised bar ? (just visible at the bottom of the adj. ramp)

BTW, is there a way to include 2 separate pictures in a post, or does anyone know an easy way I can combine them in one image?

Thanks,

Gary

Gary,
I believe the adjustment should be set at the peak of the ramp when installing a "new" serpentine drive belt. If you're reusing the old belt again, set it near the bottom of the slope. Also be sure to replace the tensioning shock, they usually go bad at the same time as the tensioner. Hope this helps.

William

Always set it at the peak of the scale on cars with a single serpentine belt, regardless of the age of the belt. If it has notch marks, adjust to the seventh mark.

The photo includes shows it correctly adjusted.

Tinker

Tinker and THEDADLORD,

After I took the photo I had readjusted it to the center of the bar just past the ramp. I'll readjust it to the peak of the ramp.

Thanks to both of you for the info.

Gary