S70 tensioner tool

Discussion in 'Volvo S70' started by Michael, Apr 25, 2005.

  1. Michael

    Michael Guest

    Where can I buy the serpentine belt tensioner tool?

    I've searched a dozen online volvo parts places with no luck.

    Is there an online source with a good price on one?

    THANKS
     
    Michael, Apr 25, 2005
    #1
  2. Michael

    Jim Carriere Guest

    I bought the one from IPD a few years ago, IIRC it is pretty much a
    3/4" drive.
     
    Jim Carriere, Apr 25, 2005
    #2
  3. Michael

    Michael Guest

    I saw on a web site where someone made a tool from
    a vice grip clutching a couple of quarters.

    On the tensioner, I see a crosshatch (+) slot.

    Do you get into this slot and twist to release?

    CCW? CW?

    How far? 1/2 turn? full?

    THANKS
     
    Michael, Apr 26, 2005
    #3
  4. Michael

    Tim.. Guest


    The belt is self tensioning via the automatic tensioner. I presume you want
    to slacken the belt to remove it?

    My tool for the later cars [1]is a short strip of steel which will fit
    between two corners of the cross to which i clamp a pair of self locking
    grips (wrench - "Molegrips" / "visegrips" ) etc to the spare bit sticking
    out so as to turn the tensioner against the spring enough to remove the
    belt.

    [1] earlier cars have a square hole where a 1/2" wrench will fit in quite
    nicely.
    Tim..
     
    Tim.., Apr 26, 2005
    #4
  5. Michael

    Michael Guest

    Thanks Tim.

    Do you turn counter clockwise or clockwise?
    How far?

    (I just want to know what to expect....don't want to screw anything up).

    When it slackens, does it stay in the loose position or does it tighten up
    again when you let off?

    Is it a spring action or something?
     
    Michael, Apr 26, 2005
    #5
  6. Michael

    newtovolvo Guest

    If you stand in front of the car and you have the
    lever arm above the square hole attachment point
    you then pull the lever towards you.
    You are pulling againist a spring so you must hold force on
    the lever the whole time. Pull gently but frimly till it stops
    and hold it there and now remove belt.
    Once the belt is off you can slowly reduce tension.
    depending on the tool you are using you may find that the small
    hose (3/4" diamater or so) from the coolant recovery bottle is
    in the way of your lever. I found this to be the case as the
    tensioner with no belt in place will rotate farther than if a belt
    were in place. I temporarily used some wire to hold the tool
    I used in the full forward position while I got the old belt off
    and new one on.

    I have seen the vise grip and 3 coins picture. I keep that idea
    in the back of my mind in case I am stranded some time, but
    decided to make a tool from a piece of flat stock, a piece of 3/4" square
    bar stock and two socket head cap screws.
    I would think that if one had the right width flat stock and could heat it
    up to bend it it could be a one piece tool.

    I have seen IPD selling one for approx 30$us plus around 10$us for us
    shipping and decided to make my own instead.

    ascii art of the tool I made,
    top view
    ___________________________________________
    | |
    |________________________________________ _|
    | |
    | |
    -
    front view
    ___________________________________________
    | /\ |
    |________________________________________\/_|




    hope this conveys the message as you can see I am not skilled
    at ascii art.

    Can one attach very small jpgs in this newsgroup to show a point
    like this clearly???
     
    newtovolvo, Apr 27, 2005
    #6
  7. Michael

    newtovolvo Guest



    OPPS!!! ascii art may not work at all depending on your font and other
    matters, sorry.
     
    newtovolvo, Apr 27, 2005
    #7
  8. Michael

    Michael Guest

    Hey thanks a million.....I'll print out your instructions
    and get working on this.

    I think I'll fabricate some sort of tool as well.

    This is one repair that I'm not going to be gouged on......
    650.00 just to replace the alternator is ridiculous.

    Electronics is my specialty......I can't understand why they just don't pull
    the AC out of these things and do all the rectification and regulation
    outboard.

    THANKS
     
    Michael, Apr 27, 2005
    #8
  9. Michael

    newtovolvo Guest

    Well at a minimum there is a battery to charge.
    There is voltage regulation.
    I think it is simpler to have all you supply in one place, imagine
    how many places would have to have diode bridges, caps, and voltage
    regulators built in, many places for failure, heat dissapation beyond
    what is now needed in each item that uses power.

    It could be done.
     
    newtovolvo, Apr 27, 2005
    #9
  10. Michael

    Mike F Guest

    It probably has something to do with "how it's always been done". Back
    in the old days, generators kept batteries charged, and there were no
    solid state diodes. In a generator, power is generated in the rotor,
    and was rectified by means of brushes on a commutator. So DC came out
    of the generator, so that's how alternators were designed. Some
    motorcycles do have a separate diode pack / regulator.

    --
    Mike F.
    Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

    Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
    (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
     
    Mike F, Apr 28, 2005
    #10
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