Hey guys I replaced my idler pulley and belt today and when I reinstalled the pulley and belt, the belt hangs maybe a 1/8-1/4 off of the backside of the idler pulley.
Everything is installed correctly and I used the same bolt, washer, and metal spacer on backside of pulley that came off of the one I took off.

My question is how do I get the idler pulley to move that little bit towards the block? Its as tight as its going to get without breaking something or stripping the bolt.

Also, the metal spacer on the backside of the pulley, that does have to be reused, correct?

Thank you all in advance!



1998 ram 1500 318 5.2 V8
with A/C

 

Belt shouldn't hang off the pulley..... that will eat it up in pretty short order. I think there is an 'alignment' pin on the tensioner, did that go into its little hole? Is the washer on the wrong side???

 

I replaced idler pulley not tensioner
I did tensioner a few weeks ago and yeah it fit in the grooves before I tightend it up

The washer is on the right side because I never took it off if the bolt when I removed the old one

 

Ooops. Need to read a bit more carefully methinks.

Compare the new, and old pulleys. Do they look the same??

 

Its okay

Yes the pulleys are the same. Same width, length, ect

 

I would guess where the bearing is in the pulley is different or has a spacer in it? any pictures?
Chris

 

Metal or plastic? Can you just flip it around?

 

I figured it out everyone, I made a rookie mistake and didn't read the box the pulley came in. It says right on the box to not use the factory spacer or dust shield because they are pre greased bearings and is not needed and it also says it can cause interference which it did.
Thank you all for the answers and sorry for wasting your time.