Idler pulley took a hike.

[eaglefreek]

I'm starting to rethink this whole thing of driving an old car cross country. Yesterday I noticed my idler pulley making a little noise. I picked a new one up after work but my boss decided that it was a good time to chat when I was walking out the door. I was going to replace it after work but he talked for over a  half hour and I had dinner plans and didn't have time to replace it. Well now I'm sitting in a TA truckstop parking lot waiting for a buddy to bring some more tools. The pulley came apart and is on the highway somewhere. I could have put the new one on here at TA but the bolt is siezed to the inner race of the old pulley bearing and I just don't have the tools in my bag to free it. I guess it's dinner at the truck stop. Whoppee! 

[eaglefreek]

A little PB Blaster, a hammer and chisel did the trick. Waiting for my country fried steak.

[vangremlin]

A little PB Blaster, a hammer and chisel did the trick. Waiting for my country fried steak.

Glad you got that one taken care of.  If it was a new car that broke down, there would be no way of fixing it yourself in the truck stop parking lot!

And try a little of that PB on your steak, its better than A-1 

[jim]

We blew an idler pulley when doing about 60 mph, on I40W heading into Memphis.
It will definitely get your attention!
Glad you got it fixed.

[mudkicker715]

I left the idler ofqf of one of mine for about 2 oil changes. after it broke. i just removed the bolt and tightened the belt when it broke. meant to get to it but kept forgetting.

[eaglefreek]

I left the idler ofqf of one of mine for about 2 oil changes. after it broke. i just removed the bolt and tightened the belt when it broke. meant to get to it but kept forgetting.

I don't see how that would be possible on my car. The idler pulley bracket is what tightens the belt.

[mudkicker715]

I left the idler ofqf of one of mine for about 2 oil changes. after it broke. i just removed the bolt and tightened the belt when it broke. meant to get to it but kept forgetting.

I don't see how that would be possible on my car. The idler pulley bracket is what tightens the belt.

Well you must have meant tensioner not idler

[carnuck]

Different cars have different setups. Dealer installed AC has a anti-bounce idler that barely even touches the back of the belt. It keeps the belt from chewing through the upper hose.

[eaglebeek]

I left the idler ofqf of one of mine for about 2 oil changes. after it broke. i just removed the bolt and tightened the belt when it broke. meant to get to it but kept forgetting.

I don't see how that would be possible on my car. The idler pulley bracket is what tightens the belt.

Well you must have meant tensioner not idler

FWIW...ours was originally equipped with an idler on the slack side of the belt between the crank and the air conditioner compressor. The alternator failed and I took it off to get to the alternator. I was in a hurry and didn't put it back on. It's still off and I've had no problems.

The tensioner is on top. Not only does it tighten the belt, it also guides the belt around the water pump/fan pulley. If it fails it causes a problem.

[jim]

I now know that in my reply I should have said tensioner, not idler.

[eaglefreek]

I now know that in my reply I should have said tensioner, not idler.

No, you and I were right, it's called an idler pulley. Any pulley that is not attached to a pump, alternator, etc. is an idler pulley. AMC even called it an idler pulley. http://www.amceaglenest.com/~iowaeagl/guide/index.php?title=Section_16%2C_Alternator%2C_Starter_%26_Pulleys


http://www.thefreedictionary.com/idler+pulley

[NoCoEagle]

Mine came off too. Eagle issue or 80s vehicle issue? Ha. I'm surprised I didn't do any damage to the car, I drove it like that for a while before realizing the alternator light was starting to come on. Parked, popped the hood, and wondered how in the heck the pulley bearing alone prevented the belt from slipping off entirely and getting chopped up in the fan.

[IowaEagle]

Jurjen  rebuilt one for Mavericke during the 2008 meet, I mostly watched and provided tools and appropriate English words.   We were able to source the bearing at a local parts store.  It's a common one.

[AMC1]

When I put AC in the Eagle I searched for an idler pulley since it was called for. It drove me nuts constantly checking to see it wasn't sliding off because it ran close to the edge. I took it off & put in a shorter belt and haven't had a problem.