How does one deal with this? Can the pulley itself be taken off and lubed? I have sprayed it with Tri-Flow and it stops squealing for a bit then starts again. I have looked at a new tensioner and it gives no indication on how I might remove and replace since there is just a stud poking out of it with no obvious place to grab it with a wrench.

 

Presuming the 1995 and the 1994 are the same, I've attached how to replace it from the factory service manual for the 1995 (hint: If you're going to work on your own truck, it'd be a good idea to HAVE the FSM for your truck ... )

RwP

 

But then what would you do Raph? I have one for the 95 it never occurred to me to look. I think I will just change it and then experiment on the old one to see if I can get the pulley off and lube it.

 

Oh yea Thank You Ralph You are priceless here.

 

Play my broken record at someone else

RwP

 

Great advice. They can be had from eBay relatively inexpensive.

 

I've got both paper and PDF for my 1988. The PDF is great for looking stuff up, and I can print pages, trash them while working, and toss them into the recycle bag.

The paper copy is where I make my notes of what's no longer quite stock *grins*

RwP

 

I have the PDF version. OK I bought the Belt tensioner at NAPA. The stud on it was 1/2inch too long. I cut it. The screws for the coil are very soft and stripped. I had to remove the bracket they are on to get at them and to get at the nut which tightens on the Tensioner stud. The tensioner has a divot poking out of it that sits in a slot on the bracket it bolts to. This is how it is oriented. Got it on once I worked out how to deal with my missing 15mm Open end and drove to the Fastener store to get the replacement screws for the Coil. ON the way there it was not a happy trip as the squealing was still there. When I came out and started it the squeal was gone!? It is driving nicely and has only chirped a couple of times as I ran errands. The old one is not suited to relubing it as far as I can tell.

 

Now that you've replaced the tensioner, get a new Gatorback(tm) belt for it.

They're not magic, but they ARE a better belt than the "Hey, it's ribbed, it's rubber, it's not a condom, what ELSE do you want?" cheap crap so many places sell.

RwP

 

OK I will change the belt if it starts chirping again. This one is only about a year old. I can't recall if I got it at NAPA or AZ