Belt sliding off

[tdm571]

I just had to change my belt tensioner over the weekend because the pulley was shot. So I got me one out of the junkyard. Everything went OK except there was some squeaking from the new pulley. I figured coming from the junkyard, it just needed a quick spray of WD40. Now the belt keeps wanting to slide out off the pulley. What can I do to fix this?

[FordMan77]

Sounds like you either got WD40 on the belt, or the pulley you got from the jyard is bad as well. Also check your belt routing to make sure it is riding on all the pullies straight. If its a bit forward it may walk off.

[jansengeorge]

Has anyone had a problem with theirA/C belt tensioner pulley.. I shedded the a\c belt back in nov and since it was winter i had no reason to fix it quickly. well with summer coming i went to fix it last week and the tensioner pulley wouldn't turn. so i took it apart and the bearings were melted. has anyone else had this problem???

[TheOtherNick]

Yeah bearings where out and some times they lock up.

[tdm571]

Well, I went out and checked my belt again. I have the routing right. It kinda looks like it is coming out wide from the power steering pump and riding the outside edge of the tensioner pulley. I would say that's why the first one went bad. I checked out the PS pulley and is has a little play in and out. Is this normal? This has all taken place since I changed my water pump.

[FordMan77]

Yeah, a little forward/back give in the PS pump is normal. Does the waterpump pulley look like its in line with all the others?

[tdm571]

Since the wp pulley is also smooth like the tensioner and downstream of the tensioner, I'd have a hard time believing that is was pulling it from the tensioner pulley. I'm worried that the PS pump is somehow now aligned properly, although I'm not sure how that could happen.

[tdm571]

Well, I took off the WP pulley and reinstalled it. That seems to have done the trick. I guess it's possible that I didn't have the pulley properly aligned.