[Shotimes] Re: Help! Battery hitting idler pulley

[Edward Mazurek]

Just an update to close the loop on this... I got
a belt from Autozone that was 1/2" longer than
the one reccomended. This allowed the
idler pulley to adjust down sufficiently so that
it is a good 1/2"-1" below the battery.

Actually, I could barely get the stock size belt on. I had to not
install the idler pulley  and crank the engine to get it on. It is
definately too small.

Thanks for everyone's help on this.

Ed

Edward Mazurek wrote:

> Hi...
>
> 95 mtx...
>
> I did a whole bunch of maintenance last year (sensors, water pump,
> timing belt, belts, plugs, all hoses, etc.) and when I went to
> put the battery it is hit the idler pulley and cut through the
> bottom of it.
>
> I couldn't figure out why, all of the sudden, this was occuring.
> When I reinstalled the battery tray it went in the same place
> I think. It can onnly be installed one way so I don't think I
> screwed it up. So, I put a 3/8" piece of plywood under the
> battery to move it up a bit. Well, that "fix" worked until
> last week when I suspect my son who is a little "heavy in the
> foot" drove it. The bottom of the battery got cut again (even
> with the piece of plywood installed) and dump one cell's
> worth of acid on the belts and pulleys. The alt. belt then broke.
>
> Any ideas as to why the bottom of the battery is now hitting the
> idler pulley? One, thing, I did change the battery at the time
> to a new one. It fits in the try just fine so I don't think that's
> it.
>
> Any help is apprecciated!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ed Mazurek