Can't get enough tension on alternator belt

Hey guys,

 

I'm a total subaru noob, just bought my LGT a month ago. I'm trying to learn more about cars by working on mine and decided to replace the serpentine belt for the power steering and alternator. Thank god, the belt wouldn't have lasted another 10 miles the way it was chewed up.

 

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/04/720e56542be461ac6898e182c2386c94.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/04/e50816b598443a4d830518358520a2ad.jpg

 

So I go to change the belt (Dayco 5050345) and I snap off the tension bolt right at the top of the threads. I went to the dealership and got an new tension bolt and nut.

 

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/04/9f7b8ca213abbb84c7d9687afca7a0d3.jpg

 

However, after installing them both, I can't get enough tension on the belt before the nut is at the top of the threads.

 

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/04/cdf8b33cf62ef076f86dea529e484396.jpg

 

Thinking the bolt that connects the but to the alternator may be the problem (it won't stay tight, like its stripped), I got a new bolt from the hardware store. This helped the connection to the alternator but I still don't get enough tension without the nut interfering.

 

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/04/8ae5659557e1c0972fde013bba84ece0.jpg

 

Shot from the top:

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/04/650c402ea00a666abfd0d75ccfcd9e67.jpg

 

Am I doing something incorrectly or missing anything? Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'd love to get my car back on the road!

you can grab the alternator and pull it up. I think that's probably the problem. The alternator pivots a little. I would loosen everything up. Pull the Alternator up and then try and tighten everything down.

I tried that, but when I get it to where it's tight enough the tension bolt would need to be tightened down below its threads into the nut. That's how I broke the first one. Is that how tight that should normally be or do I need a washer above it or something?

Your belt is too long. Get a shorter belt. Rock on into the auto parts store with the current belt and ask them to match it to a shorter belt.

Thanks guys, that sounds like it's the issue. I'm going to go swap the Dayco belt for the Gates one and see if that solves the problem.

So I swapped belts for a Gates belt, but I'm still having the same problem. When the belt is tight enough, the bolt in the adjustment nut is directly next to the belt. It's touching the belt, too.

 

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/05/04ad4b8c05b5cc0b03e38846ffe9f94b.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/05/9a1196ef12367fb8a4bb5326d78acdcb.jpg

 

What could I possibly be missing? Every video I've seen, the adjustment nut rides below the belt.

 

I'm also pretty sure the previous owner put an AC compressor belt on the alternator (probably to deal with that nut in the way). The belt I took off only had three ribs instead of four.

See my click here link for pictures of mine.

 

Those are Dayco belts from I think Sept 07, 95,000 miles, they are still on the engine.

 

I think the PS and AC are different thickness, I believe they only go on one way.

 

OP these are called drive belts not serpentine belts. A serpentine belt is when one belt drive's all the pulleys. Mainly on domestic car, for the most part.

Hey Max Capacity,

 

Thanks for the correction. This is my first import car, so I've only heard it called a serpentine belt.

 

The two belts are definitely different thicknesses, but it seemed like it would go on either way. Assuming that's what you meant, not that they could be swapped.

 

I looked through your entire build thread, but I didn't actually see a shot with the tensioner and belt on the engine. Did I miss it, or is there no shot of it in that thread?

What you need to do is move the tensioner piece down the threads to give yourself more adjustment room its started up too high if that makes sens. Youve used up your adjustment range. On both my legacys (2.5i and LGT) the horizontal bolt is about 2 inches below the belt when fully tensioned.

Sorry I thought I had a picture in my thread. I'll look in my files.

 

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x40/92Si/Picture061.jpg

 

Not much help...

 

Here I went out and took a picture

 

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x40/92Si/DSCN6682_zps5c3dba36.jpg

Here's some better shots of the pulleys. I'm assuming Unorthodox Racing is not stock... haha

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/05/95d0398c03846a96d5c3bf583525f834.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/05/24920f5de6df13868a333f82f90508f2.jpg

 

This is the only bolt I found that will let the belt have clearance enough where the adjustment comes to rest (at full tension).

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/05/ac41e93ab488556bcf97464482cecedb.jpg

looks like their underdriven pulleys...on both the PS pump and crank. If so, you'll need their smaller belt.

 

Here's the link with underdriven belt info

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/official-unorthodox-racing-underdrive-stock-diameter-pulley-set-group-buy-13816p2.html?highlight=unorthodox+underdriven

What belt did you order?

That totally makes sense. I've got those installed for sure, I'm positive I have the wrong belt now.

 

The belt I have now is http://m.oreillyauto.com/mt/www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/GAT9/K050344/03306.oap?year=2005&make=Subaru&model=Legacy&vi=1430733&ck=Search_C0074_1430733_3879&pt=C0074&ppt=C0007

 

I'm going back to the store tomorrow and grabbing what's listed on Unorthodox's site with that set. I imagine that will solve all my troubles, wouldn't you?

I wouldn't doubt it.

Had the same problem a couple weeks ago with my brothers impreza outback, we ended up going with a shorter belt (Dayco 5050345) since the original belt was too long and it would squeal loud when turning the wheels. Dayco website list two belts this was was 5mm shorter than oem. And it worked perfect.

Thanks for all the help everyone! I walked to Auto Zone today (too cold and rainy for the motorcycle) and bought the closest belt to what was recommended in the thread about UR pulleys. The belt is 44.02" OC. It installed fairly easy and had plenty of tension with room to spare under the belt.

 

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/06/54391478854314a08aff9135c9054807.jpg