Practical Tips

[greasybob]

If you ever run into one of those belt tensioners with an external coil spring that requires a special tool to compress for removal and installation no worries a couple of hose clamps will do the job. 2012 Buick lacrosse 2.4 hybrid shown.

[diesel71]

If you ever run into one of those belt tensioners with an external coil spring that requires a special tool to compress for removal and installation no worries a couple of hose clamps will do the job. 2012 Buick lacrosse 2.4 hybrid shown.

sweet, thanks for sharing. i used a c clamp once it was sketchy but worked.

[David Green]

Over the pond we have a similar design. What I do with ours is pull on the longest run of the belt by hand to compress the spring, and then, using a round pin normally about 3 mm diameter over here there is a hole in the spring mounting that the pin locates through, then the belt can be removed/replaced.

[greasybob]

17 f350 tranny lines

Recently had to change the tranny lines on a 2017 F350 6.7 Power Stroke. ShopKey instructions have you removing the starter for this job. There is even a multi media presentation in ShopKey where you can watch a Ford technician fight with the lines for 7 minutes trying to remove them. A better way, remove the steal support to totally separate the lines and remove and install the new lines one at a time. No starter removal required and lines will slip right in without a fight. Removing the oil filter housing is still required. Just reinstall the tranny line support once you have them in position.

[greasybob]

Got a roll pin in a ridiculously hard place to get a swing at it ? No problem, just use your air hammer with a long anvil and a roll pin punch. Shown is a Polaris Ranger 900 front drive shaft at front differential.

[BRIAN617]

Got a roll pin in a ridiculously hard place to get a swing at it ? No problem, just use your air hammer with a long anvil and a roll pin punch. Shown is a Polaris Ranger 900 front drive shaft at front differential.

I have drove a many of those out. I usually drive them out from the bottom through the hole in the skid plate.

[greasybob]

Do you need to remove dip stick tube because it's cracked, rusted or rotted ? And you can't get a grip on it without crushing it. Cut it off at a solid spot and insert an 8mm bolt so your vice grip doesn't collapse it. Then you can twist, tug and pull on it. If it rusted to close to the engine block to get a grip then try threading a rod into it and use a nut and a collar to try and pull it out. Sorry no picture doing it that way.

[greasybob]

Ever try to put one of those stretch belts on a Subaru AC compressor ? Quite a stretch. I found the perfect tool for the job. I got these release tools for DEF tank type connectors from Snappy a while back. It has the perfect gap to slide over the belt and the crank pulley. First loop the belt around the compressor then slide the tool over the belt and the crank pulley to hold the belt in place and turn the engine over until belt is on both pulleys then just walk it over to the correct grooves while turning the engine. No damage was noticed on the belt after installation. I could see this working for lots of other applications. This vehicle was a 2010 Forester 2.5.

[greasybob]

Pro Master AC Belt

Another stretch belt that takes 3 hands to install. A 2015 Ram Pro Master 2500 with a 3.0 Diesel. The stretch belt part is bad enough but to add to that is the crank bolt is inaccessible unless you lower the engine or have a very low profile socket. Solution ? I used a small hose pincher to hold the belt on the crank pulley and used my remote starter switch to bump the engine over until the belt was in place. Also used a pry bar to keep the belt on the idler during the process.

[greasybob]

Oops, pictures. Hope I got them sized right

[SnapOnKid]

@greasybob have you ever tried one of these gadgets on a stretch belt?

https://shop.snapon.com/product/Belt-Tensioning-Tools-(Engine-Service)/Stretch-Fit-Belt-Install-Tool-(Blue-Point)/SBTI

FWI OTC makes one too.