Sick of v-belt tensioning?

[msbaugh]

I got so sick and tired of my v-belt loosening up every 5 days or so I decided to do something about it.  It would squeal like crazy and was a all around pain in the butt to tighten over and over.

Obviously you could go with a serpentine set-up, but these things are very expensive.

I decided to go ahead and just buy an adjustable heim joint with jam nuts to replace the sliding nut bottom bracket.  This would allow me to tension it very easily, and will not back off whatsoever. 

Turns out march performance makes 3/8" heim joints in all different lengths that you can custom order off of jegs.  It would be pretty easy to make this work with any kit you already have installed. 

[msbaugh]

http://www.jegs.com/i/March+Performance/655/RA-3.500/10002/-1

[73_Cuda_4_Me]

 

SAWEEEEEEEETTTTT!

Thanks!

[70chall440]

I have been doing this for years except I don't use those March brackets which I am not overly fond of. I buy the heim joints from Summit or Jegs and get some tubing and make my own adjustable rods.

BTW if your belts are loosening every 5 days, there are other issues going on. Granted, getting the belt tight the old school Mopar way is a pain, but it worked for many years on many vehicles.

[msbaugh]

I have been doing this for years except I don't use those March brackets which I am not overly fond of. I buy the heim joints from Summit or Jegs and get some tubing and make my own adjustable rods.

BTW if your belts are loosening every 5 days, there are other issues going on. Granted, getting the belt tight the old school Mopar way is a pain, but it worked for many years on many vehicles.

Nothing wrong... the chrome bolts and brackets just loosen up over time. Pretty normal actually. Every 5 days may have been a bit of an exaggeration

[inviolet]

Good stuff

[Road_Runner]

I wonder if the quality of current (possibly China made) v belts has gone down like everything else since the 70's.  The reason I say that is that I don't remember having to tighten belts all that often back then, or now.  In fact, I learned that I was actually over tightening them at first and they actually do better with 'a little' play normally an inch or so up & down in the middle between pulleys.  If yours were loosening up more than that I agree you probably have loose fitting bolts, etc.  If yours squeal before being fairly loose, you might have a bearing going bad, too much friction somewhere.

Later, Jim

[AARuFAST]

I only see nuts on the top bracket for tightening the alternator. Not familiar with that type of bracket  But where do you tighten the brackets.......
The spacers may not be the correct size.

My friend has a Superbird and his alternator belts kept slipping.
He did everything. not..........  The spacers between the brackets were not (cut)  the correct size.
I notices he had a space between the back spacer.  After he corrected the spacer size
he has had not issues.
 His is original bracket, spacers, alternator.

[msbaugh]

I only see nuts on the top bracket for tightening the alternator. Not familiar with that type of bracket  But where do you tighten the brackets.......
The spacers may not be the correct size.

My friend has a Superbird and his alternator belts kept slipping.
He did everything. not..........  The spacers between the brackets were not (cut)  the correct size.
I notices he had a space between the back spacer.  After he corrected the spacer size
he has had not issues.
 His is original bracket, spacers, alternator.

Take a look at the pictures again, the heim is on the bottom.  Everything is lined-up ppl, it's just easier to tighten now. Quit poking holes in my alternator belt!