Does the pulley radius affect the belt tension?

Yes, the radius of the pulley affects the tensions in the belt. For a given frictional torque at the axle, the difference in tensions between the pull side and the load side is smaller because larger radius gives a greater moment.

How tight should I make my alternator belt?

You want to be able to press down on the belt at a mid point between two pulleys and only be able to move it downward about 1/8 to 1/4 inch. When you have the alternator in the right position, have an assistant tighten the top bolt and nut to lock the alternator in.

Does serpentine belt size matter?

Purchase a belt one size smaller than the size you measured. The actual belt will have tension on it, whereas the string doesn’t. For example, if you measured 80 inches, purchase a belt that is 79 1/2 inches.

What is known as the upper side in a belt drive having less tension?

Cross or twisted belt drives are used with rotating shafts in parallel and opposite directions. Thus, the tension at the Bottom Side of the belt will be higher than at the upper side of the belt. The belt is known as the tight side due to high tension, while the belt due to low tension is known as the slack side.

How do I loosen my alternator belt?

How to Loosen an Alternator Belt

1. Open and secure your car’s hood.
2. Locate the alternator.
3. Look for the three bolts that secure the alternator.
4. Loosen the front and rear bolts attached to the alternator and engine using a suitably sized wrench.
5. Loosen the bolt attached to the adjustable bracket.
6. Remove the wrenches.

Can you bypass the AC with a serpentine belt?

Sometimes a problem with your air conditioning compressor can cause it to actually lock up. There is a way around this problem however; you can actually bypass the compressor all together with a different serpentine belt.

Can a smaller pulley cause an alternator to fail?

Using a smaller pulley on a high revving engines can cause component failure from extreme speeds.Alternators are only good for about 15,000 continuous RPM’s, the lower the alternator RPM’s the longer your alternator will last. how to calculate your alternators RPM’s you measure your crank shaft pulley size and then your alternator pulley size.

Which is better a bigger pulley or a smaller belt?

If you use a bigger pulley, the belt will see less cyclic variation, but the bearings will see higher loads. A smaller pulley is the opposite. I usually figure that it is easier and cheaper to replace a belt than a bearing, so I use small pulleys.

What is the size of a small case alternator?

Most smaller 4 and 6 cylinder diesels have what is known as a “small case alternator”. The diameter of these alternators is about 5 ½” and the length including the pulley is about 6”. They often have a single pulley for one belt although the more powerful ones will have double pulleys or a serpentine belt.

Can a belt wrap completely around an alternator?

If the belt were to wrap completely around the pulley that would be 100% belt wrap. having 100% belt wrap completely around the alternator would be impossible but the greater the belt wrap the longer belt and pulley life can be expected. Alternators take quite a bit of power to run so good belt contact with the pulley is very important.

Using a smaller pulley on a high revving engines can cause component failure from extreme speeds.Alternators are only good for about 15,000 continuous RPM’s, the lower the alternator RPM’s the longer your alternator will last. how to calculate your alternators RPM’s you measure your crank shaft pulley size and then your alternator pulley size.

How many ribs are in an alternator pulley?

Depending on the vehicle and engine the number of “ribs” made into the belt , which determines the width of the belt, varies from 5 to 8 with 6 being by far the most popular size or width. Alternator pulleys also come in various outer diameters.

What kind of belt does an alternator use?

Most modern vehicles use only one belt to drive all the accessory pulleys. This is a wide belt that is flat on one side and has small “V” shaped ribs on the other side. Both the flat (smooth) side of the belt and the ribbed side can be used to drive pulleys.

What happens if I change the pulley size on my lternator?

Caution must be noted: Changing the pulley size on your a lternator may void the manufacturers warranty. Spinning your Alternator faster will increase brush and bearing wear.