Plastic pulley on Motorcraft belt tensioner? Damn!

[vegascarnut]

Ordered a new one, got it and the damn pulley is plastic. Disappointing to say the least. I'm sure it will be fine, but the original has the metal pulley, which is also a little wider. Tried the old pulley and the bearings won't fit the new shaft—machined differently. Guess the old part becomes a spare. Grrr. Just venting.

 

[tltoronto]

Does the plastic pulley have recessed edges to help keep the belt straight? I have not yet had to do a tensioner, (thankfully) but on previous vehiles, I was able to press the old bearing out of the tensioner and replace it. Can we do that to the original tensioner?

 

[dsg2003mach1]

might be able to get a new bearing at somewhere like Napa

and it's composite, for weight savings lol

 

[vegascarnut]

Does the plastic pulley have recessed edges to help keep the belt straight? I have not yet had to do a tensioner, (thankfully) but on previous vehiles, I was able to press the old bearing out of the tensioner and replace it. Can we do that to the original tensioner?

No, it's smooth, just like the original pulley. You can press out the bearings and replace, but that doesn't replace your tensioner spring, which fails as often as the pulley itself. They just get weak and stop doing their job.

 

[vegascarnut]

might be able to get a new bearing at somewhere like Napa

and it's composite, for weight savings lol

OH! Composite! Fancy. Haha.

 

[JohnyPython]

Ordered a new one, got it and the damn pulley is plastic. Disappointing to say the least. I'm sure it will be fine, but the original has the metal pulley, which is also a little wider. Tried the old pulley and the bearings won't fit the new shaft—machined differently. Guess the old part becomes a spare. Grrr. Just venting.

Wife’s Jokeswagen has composite pulleys. They’re fine. VW “composite” water pump impeller, that’s another story.

 

[B E N]

Ford has been using plastic idler pulleys since at least the 80's, it wasn't a problem then and isn't now. Your truck will be just fine

 

[John813]

might be able to get a new bearing at somewhere like Napa

and it's composite, for weight savings lol

You contemplating getting a Gen 1 now? lol

Join the darkside.

(Blk04l on svtp)

 

[vegascarnut]

Ford has been using plastic idler pulleys since at least the 80's, it wasn't a problem then and isn't now. Your truck will be just fine

Yeah I know. I just wanted what I had, but it’s fine.