Explorer serpentine belt rubbing on water pump / idler pulley

[Postalpal]

Need help with the belt rubbing
First off I have the complete 96 explorer set up (other than replacing a few pulleys). I purchased the belt for No AC since I'm not running it
Besides the belt being like inch too short to install it's pretty obvious the belt on belt rubbing at the area I circled

Any suggestions? If I order the belt for AC I feel like it will be too big

Perhaps one of the pulleys I replaced is bigger ? I'm baffled

 

[BowHunter148]

Following, I have the same problem


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[toddz69]

What is the diameter of the idler pulley?

I ran out to the garage and checked mine and it's about 3 9/16" in diameter. Tough to measure the belt clearance but it appears to be about 1/4-1/2".

Todd Z.

 

[nutter3]

One of the pullies must be too big. Your belt length would not make any difference in that location. If you used the belt for AC, it would be way too long for the tensioner to keep it tight.

 

[ntsqd]

Are the tensioner and idler pulley's the same diameter?

 

[73azbronco]

Not clear what the issue is, picture shows what looks like a belt thats far too long, is that the question? Take a string and wrap it around to get length. Go down to a napa like store, buy few sizes, try them, return those that dont fit. Yes, the belt is close to itself, but does not touch. I had these part numbers but those brain cells died of old age about 10 years ago.

 

[Broncobowsher]

The waterpump pulley is special and can't change. The only option would be a smaller idler or add A/C

 

[badandy73]

The belt isn't tensioned in the picture..? Once it's under tension it'll work. It's tight but should clear.

 

[Broncobowsher]

There is another belt routing option. The passenger lower idler, over alt, to the power steering all stays the same.
But change on the crank and water pump area.
power steering to bottom of crank
Wrap crank and up to water pump
Counterclockwise around the water pump and to the pass lower idler.

In this you are pushing the belt into the water pump and the belt doesn't have as much tension on the water pump pulley. But you have a massive amount of wrap on the pulley so it should not be an issue. It isn't that much less tension. I've seen factory application that run less than 45° of belt wrap and my idea is 200+° of belt wrap.

 

[EFI Guy]

I think that some of the parts houses list the pulleys incorrectly. I have ordered that upper idler and instead received the tensioner pulley which is a larger diameter. I could see that causing clearance problems. The idler pulley should be about 1/2" smaller in diameter than the tensioner.

 

[Postalpal]

Are the tensioner and idler pulley's the same diameter?

I'm gonna look again today. I bought another belt which does seem thinner which could give me a bit more clearance, this will tell me if the other no name belt was the issue
Will post when I figure it out

 

[ksagis]

EFIGuys advice is solid, looking at your pic on the interference, getting a slightly thinner belt seems unlikely solve the issue.

Measure twice, cut once

 

[73azbronco]

belt thickness is how to solve this, correct pulleys is, hard to tell in your pics. Do you have the original pulleys to compare

 

[1969]

The belt isn't tensioned in the picture..? Once it's under tension it'll work. It's tight but should clear.

Second this

 

[EPB72]

https://www.partsgeek.com/q3lrfgb-f...(BSC)&utm_term=1100003048397&utm_content=Ford Or you can do as ford did and run the ac delete pulley heres the dorman repop ..

 

[toddz69]

I'm gonna look again today. I bought another belt which does seem thinner which could give me a bit more clearance, this will tell me if the other no name belt was the issue
Will post when I figure it out

Get your tape measure out and measure the diameter of the idler and tensioner pulleys as I and others have suggested and I'm guessing we can help you very quickly. Belt thickness isn't going to be the issue.

Todd Z.

 

[Postalpal]

Are the tensioner and idler pulley's the same diameter?

Mine are
3 15/16. Might be why

 

[toddz69]

Mine are
3 15/16. Might be why

Ding, ding, ding. I think you just found the root cause of your problem....

Todd Z.

 

[Postalpal]

Get your tape measure out and measure the diameter of the idler and tensioner pulleys as I and others have suggested and I'm guessing we can help you very quickly. Belt thickness isn't going to be the issue.

Todd Z.

My tensioner & idler pulleys are the same size appx 3 7/8 - nearly 15/16

Got another belt that appears to be slight longer, thinner. Looks like it may work once I ensure I have the right pulleys

 

[Postalpal]

FIXED

As Garry said , parts house gave me a larger pulley & yes the one that fits is 1/2 smaller (see pics )
This is the belt & pulley that works (pic)

I did get a different belt that was a hair longer & thinner