Belt tensioner question

[Corvette95]

Got my engine back together last night, - fired up, belt tensioner is jumping around and making a "clicking" noise when it does. It was doing this before I torn the car down. I sent my tensioner to Marc H for rebuild. Belt is routed right and I used a NOS correct Goodyear belt, anything to adjust or check besides then tensioner - I would assume it is the internal tensioner spring? Also, I know the tensioner can be mounted incorrectly - hard to do but possible, mine is installed correctly. Any thoughts

[WARP TEN]

Originally Posted by Corvette95

Got my engine back together last night, - fired up, belt tensioner is jumping around and making a "clicking" noise when it does. It was doing this before I torn the car down. I sent my tensioner to Marc H for rebuild. Belt is routed right and I used a NOS correct Goodyear belt, anything to adjust or check besides then tensioner - I would assume it is the internal tensioner spring? Also, I know the tensioner can be mounted incorrectly - hard to do but possible, mine is installed correctly. Any thoughts

I am guessing you may have already done this, but I would suggest a call to Marc since he rebuilt the tensioner. --Bob

[Corvette95]

Originally Posted by WARP TEN

I am guessing you may have already done this, but I would suggest a call to Marc since he rebuilt the tensioner. --Bob

I sent him an email, thing is, I trust HIS work over mine, but everything seems good on my end other than the tensioner jumping

[lfalzarano]

The belt MUST be correct length for the tensioner to be in middle of range with no hitting either extreme limit, the stronger spring has much to do with that too. If you can push the tensioner arm by hand the spring is too weak even if the part is new.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

[Corvette95]

I couldn't upload a video so I used a hosting site. hope this link works...
https://streamable.com/3ix64s

[We Gone]

I hear some noise when the AC compressor cycles, turn off the AC first than check noise. You can also remove the belt and and see what you hear. wont hurt anything as long as you just start check and shut off.

[Dynomite]

What is gap between belts compressed by Tensioner??
Maybe a shorter belt would help??
I think the tensioner jumps around more with a longer (more loose) belt where the pressure applied by the tensioner is less as the tensioner is unwound and the tensioner being pointed directly perpendicular to the belt.

The belt appears too long as the tensioner has deflected the belt considerbly.

[secondchance]

Corvette95. Have you replaced alternator lately? If so, verify if the alternator pulley is correct size. Often, L98 pulley is on replacement. If so, belt ends up being a tad longer and could result in tensioner bouncing around.

[Corvette95]

Originally Posted by secondchance

Corvette95. Have you replaced alternator lately? If so, verify if the alternator pulley is correct size. Often, L98 pulley is on replacement. If so, belt ends up being a tad longer and could result in tensioner bouncing around.

Just to follow up on your post, not only was the pulley undersized, spacer dimensions were wrong, causing faint contact intermittently with the fan blades to alternator. The car was nice, low mileage when I bought it but the owner was not a wrencher. I a lot of things were not right on the car, I HAD to save it. I am very very compentent in C4's mainly electrical and driveability, Never had much mechanical done to my 95 Lt5, what little was done was at Sought Georgia corvette, so I am in a heavy learning curve, not in the systems designs but the little nuonces of the LT5 such as this alternator spacer. I need to do this with my hands, only way to learn, but it is a back killer and ever worse when you complete a system only to take it back down again for a small rubbing noise..aka alternator spacer issues. Thanks to all that have helped, I know I have asked for a lot but please remember, I bought this car, drove it less than ten miles home a took out every major system in the car to fix botched previous work and to perform an NCRS quality restoration- a lot to take on. I rely on the group to help and you have, and I will have more to come but I did get it running fine other than a few tensioner and alternator noise after full top end port, hoses, thermostat housing, oil filter adapter, heater core, steering column, all new brakes, brake booster, secondary rebuilt, fuel pump-both..and on and on, interior is dead empty, no seats, dash, carpet, gauges etc. This is all at one time. Getting this engine completely, install steering wheel, bleed all new brakes and I will be able to move it to paint shop , after that rebuild continues. Pics to follow but I promide it to be showroom new. Spend two weeks with a toothbrush detailing under carriage. Hot tired and frustrated today but I am saying a low mileage 90 from death for a full future ahead....using NOS whenever is possible as well.

[Corvette95]

I have been checking, belt is correct application, I took a stethoscope to all the bearings including a/c, noise abnormal noise other than the tensioner. I measured the alternator pulley (this was the alternator that was on it when I bought it - I had it rebuilt while it was off just in case) , was suggested may be an undersized pulley, it is 2.4 inches wide (alternator pulley) . I can pry on the tensioner to keep it from jumping around and the noise goes away. https://streamable.com/ahuq0d