Pully ticking *Updated*

[rendyx]

I fired up the SHO this morning, and what do I hear from the left side (pully side) of the motor? A ticking. In assume this is the [6-rib belt] idler pully on its way out. However, it did cease after a few miles of driving. Is it the cold weather, or should I pick up a new one soon? And how long would you say I have before it fails completely? Thanks!

<small>[ January 29, 2003, 04:36 PM: Message edited by: rendyx ]</small>

 

[projectSHO89]

Who knows how long it will take? My front one was noisy for a long time, but it was the quiet rear pulley bearing that failed catastrophically.

They both got replaced out of a recycled '90 a couple weeks ago after the car spent over a week on jackstands trying to get the right pulleys and bearings.

Look for my thread about the "idler pulleys revisited" or something similar.

You can always remove the belt and spin the pulley by hand to see how it sounds.

Steve

 

[rendyx]

After doing a little research, I'm thinking I should loosen the belt, spin some pulleys, and see which one makes the noise. I'm suspecting it is with the 6-rip belt, as this is the one that was too tight for a while. As for replacing it, is the best way to just go with the NSK bearing (or is this question the thing everyone is wondering about)?

 

[projectSHO89]

If you can get that bearing.......

Otherwise, $80 for a new pulley (with a new bearing) or a used one at whatever price you can get it at.

Steve

 

[sdpatt]

Make sure of the source of the noise before you start replacing things. Is the belt damaged? Is a pulley damaged and causing the belt to be damaged? Does the pulley slow down rapidly when spun without the belt installed?

 

[pjtoledo]

It is possibly to pry the side seals out of those bearings. You can repack them and buy a little more time while looking for new ones. I had one last for 6 months with some new grease in it.

Perry Toledo,Ohio

 

[rendyx]

This may or may not be related to my ticking pulley. I got out of the SHO today after moving it back up the street, and I smelled something, a little like rubber, burning. Now I do have about 1/4"-1/2" of play in the alternator belt I have had much trouble with at the bottom stretch of it, so I suspect it is fine. And I smelled the area, and it doesn't have any very unusual odors. It almost seems to be coming from the driver's corner of the car. I'm wondering if it has to do with the "BRRIIVVVPP!" noise I hear, which seems to come from the PS area, and the squeaks that come from the PS. As for the bearing, it seems quieter now, so I suspect I have some time still to browse around/repack it. Thanks guys!

 

[projectSHO89]

Pull the pulley out an inspect it, quickly.

My 89 did that when the rear idler pulley bearing collapsed. That caused the pulley to remain stationary with the back off the belt sliding over the not-moving pulley. The belt eventually failed and it would have been a big surprise to suddenly be without power steering whilw driving down the road.

You can see the rear idler better from below.

Check it quickly.

Steve

 

[rendyx]

Okay, I took out the pulley and it appears fine, although it doesn't turn very far. If I spin it a bit, it might turn about 3/4 rotation, then slow and stop. However, when I removed the center part (not sure what it's called, the cylinder which slides inside the bearing, and is almost an inch long), and went to put it back in, I discovered that it is slightly bent, so it only goes in i lined up properly. I checked out the other bearings on that belt too. Alternator makes a little "wh-wh" noise, but nothing really extreme, as with my old unit. The A/C compressor (which doesn't work anyways) turns fairly well.

Another note, when I pulled down the driveway to go back up into the garage (it's on a hill), in neutral and simply rolling down it, I noticed the idle was dipping occasionally. It would hold at about 1000 RPMs, then suddenly drop to about 800 and pause, then bounce back up. Could this be related? Or is it more likely my age old plugs/wires (5k on Autolites in front, ?k on Autloites in back, probably filled with oil)? They're going to be replaced in a little bit, with the Motorcraft plugs/wires, when I do the shims.

<small>[ January 29, 2003, 12:00 PM: Message edited by: rendyx ]</small>

 

[rendyx]

I went back and played around a bit more. Here's a better status of the pullies on the 6-rip belt:

1. Alternator: does about 3 turns when spun, makes a little noise, as mentioned above.
2. A/C Compressor: makes about 1 turn, feels a bit heavy.
3. Idler: Spins about 20 times! But makes plenty of noise, lots of wooshing and such.

And as for the idle dipping, could this be the CID?

<small>[ January 29, 2003, 12:29 PM: Message edited by: rendyx ]</small>

 

[rendyx]

Geeze, 3 posts by me in a row! eek!

I noticed the inside cylinder on the bearing is turning some, and it may be turning at times instead of the bearing. Another thought, I think the idle started having these issues after I cleaned the IAB.

As for the rear pulley, I don't think it's that (or it hasn't stopped moving yet), as the print is still easily visible on that belt, but correct me if I'm wrong determining it this way.

<small>[ January 29, 2003, 01:52 PM: Message edited by: rendyx ]</small>

 

[projectSHO89]

The "inside cylinder" is the spacer. If it is turning inside the inner barrel of the bearing, that probably means the bearing is intermittently siezing. Given its noise while turning it in your no load test, I would replace it without further question.

I would also remove the rear idler pulley and conduct the same out of car inspection and test. It is extremely hard to check while still installed, unless you remove the belt and then spin it from the bottom. Since you're already in the "neighborhood", it would be a good idea to check it for peace of mind. Or not...whatever..your choice.

And as for the idle dipping, could this be the CID?

No. Inspect for any vacuum leaks, if none are found, replace the IAB.

<small>[ January 29, 2003, 02:10 PM: Message edited by: projectSHO89 ]</small>

 

[rendyx]

I can't really get a pulley right away, so I'm going to attempt to Loctite the spacer in properly. Now that I think of it though , if the bearing is having issues, that would probably cause it to seize even worse, as when the spacer slid, it probably absorbed some of the shock. And you mentioned the noise it's making doesn't sound too good, so I'll have to go pulley shopping very soon! I took a quick look at the rear pulley, but haven't removed it yet. I probably will when I get this resolved, so if anything crops up, I'll know which one is causing the problem. Otherwise, I'd check it sooner. And Steve, where did you end up getting your pulley? BTW, thanks for all your help with this, I greatly appreciate it, and hopefully I can get this issue resolved fairly soon!

 

[rendyx]

Okay, got the thing back together, only a couple observations:

1. Idle stills acts a little funny (must be the IAB, it started acting weird after I cleaned it)
2. Alternator pulley gets a little warm, is this just because I ran the car under heavy electrical load for a few minutes to test it? The first time I started it p, I thought I heard the belt chirp, and it did feel a little loose, so ?I tightened it about 1/2 turn, then tried again. There is about a 1/4"-1/2" of play in the belt at the bottom stretch currently.

<small>[ January 29, 2003, 05:02 PM: Message edited by: rendyx ]</small>