[DeTomaso] Air conditioner belt replacement

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/2/13 19 54 20, guido_detomaso at prodigy.net writes:


> Eventually removed
> the tensioning pulley altogether.  Didn't zing it or put it on eBay, it's 
> just
> riding the pine for now.
> 

>>>When you have the front end open, now would be a good time to 
investigate the status of the bearing which is pressed into the idler pulley.   You 
don't want to have happen to you, what happened to me:

http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=28729

When the bearing came apart, it sounded just like an engine that had 
completely fragged.   I had the car towed home, and was relieved to find the 
problem was so minor.

The local machine shop destroyed my pulley trying to press out the remains 
of the bearing.   No big loss; a replacement bearing for the stock pulley 
cost almost exactly the same as a complete replacement pulley w/bearing.   The 
replacement is slightly larger in diameter, no big deal.   I got it at 
NAPA; brand is Duralast and part number is 231036.

Mike