Belt jack?

[dach side]

I saw on this forum, I think, a item called a belt jack, designed to adjust & hold belt tension when replacing or adjusting belts but can't find one. There was a referral to he company that made this product. Numerous queries on google yield no results. Anyone know where to get one?

 

[Steve]

Try searching for "Pulley Spreader" I believe that is what you are looking for

 

[Northern Spy]

In a pinch you can make one out of a couple of chunks of wood and a hardware store turnbuckle.

 

[rwidman]

In a pinch you can make one out of a couple of chunks of wood and a hardware store turnbuckle.

I made one from a turnbuckle. No chunks of wood though.

 

[Larry M]

Are you trying to adjust the belt tension via your alternator?

 

[rwidman]

Are you trying to adjust the belt tension via your alternator?

I believe the tool he's looking for goes between two pulleys and you screw it apart to move the pulleys apart and increase the belt tension.

Before I made mine I searched the Internet and couldn't find one. I still cant.

 

[Shoalwaters]

Larry, I like that - will do some measuring.

Rwidman, picture please.

 

[Larry M]

Larry, I like that - will do some measuring.

Rwidman, picture please.

Thanks. Here's the other alternator. I had to cut one of the jaws down to clear the water pump.

 

[rwidman]

Rwidman, picture please.

This started life as a turnbuckle from the hardware store. I took the ends (eyes) out and flattened them in a vise with a hammer so they would stay in the pulley groves. Measure between your pulleys to figure out what size turnbuckle to get.

Put it between the pulleys and turn the center to expand the tool and move the pulleys apart.

 

[Steve]

Here is a place listing them for sale
Belting Accessories | MSCDirect.com

 

[rwidman]

Here is a place listing them for sale
Belting Accessories | MSCDirect.com

You are a better snoop than I am!

Yep, that is the tool. You have to read the reviews to find the working range.

 

[FlyWright]

Larry and Ron,

Great ideas!! Thanks for the pics.

 

[Steve]

I've always used one of these 18-24" long.

 

[Nomad Willy]

I've always used one of these 18-24" long.

Yes I was about to post the same. Or as Spy wrote "In a pinch you can make one out of a couple of chunks of wood and a hardware store turnbuckle."

I've never heard of a belt jack. Great idea though. Something in me says it's kinda like Aqua Drives, synthetic oil, brand name engines, twin engines, high tech anchors and many other things. I like it all except syn oil in NA engines.

But the thing I like about this is that it's something anybody can do to make things better. Good idea.

 

[rwidman]

I've always used one of these 18-24" long.

The problem with that is, you often don't have room to use it on a boat.

 

[dach side]

Thanks all, for the assistance. If I can't put one together, I can contact mscdirect.

 

[SaltyDog]

Turnbuckle alternator adjusters - great idea.

I've had one of the tools since about 1980. Dozen or more engines and I don't use it.

The adjustable mounting arm.......where can I get one for a Sabre 80? That is surely the way to tackle that task, unless I'm missing something. Any down side?

 

[SCOTTEDAVIS]

Balmar UBB Universal Adjustment Arm with Belt Buddy Tensioner

 

[Larry M]

I like it!

 

[High Wire]

Here is a place listing them for sale
Belting Accessories | MSCDirect.com

Had one for years. Works great in tight spots. Gave it to a friend when I sold my last inboard boat. Thanks for the reminder to pick one up.

 

[bayview]

Many of those bar type wood clamps can be reversed to open instead of close. Consider trying that.

 

[bayview]

I think this is what you are looking for.

 

[Shoalwaters]

I dislike sticking a lever into some dark space to tension a belt. It is easy to lever against something fragile, or find you've lost the tension when everything is bolted up tight. I had never heard of a belt-jack before reading this thread, but it is an elegant idea and appealed strongly. My junk box yielded two scrap turnbuckles, each missing the left-hand threaded male part. I reamed the left-hand female thread out of one (red ring) and voila! It works like a charm. The pics tell the story. The little pieces of clear hose are enough to stop it slipping on the pulleys.

BTW: This discussion came a the right time. The belt in the pic was worn and making black dust. I have used my little "jack" to change belts on both engines. Can I hope that the black dusting will be reduced, or stop altogether?

Sorry RWidman, no patent infringement intended!

 

[FlyWright]

Very nice, SW! I'd call that reverse engineering!

 

[rwidman]

I dislike sticking a lever into some dark space to tension a belt. It is easy to lever against something fragile, or find you've lost the tension when everything is bolted up tight. I had never heard of a belt-jack before reading this thread, but it is an elegant idea and appealed strongly. My junk box yielded two scrap turnbuckles, each missing the left-hand threaded male part. I reamed the left-hand female thread out of one (red ring) and voila! It works like a charm. The pics tell the story. The little pieces of clear hose are enough to stop it slipping on the pulleys.

BTW: This discussion came a the right time. The belt in the pic was worn and making black dust. I have used my little "jack" to change belts on both engines. Can I hope that the black dusting will be reduced, or stop altogether?

Sorry RWidman, no patent infringement intended!

That's a nice job. Much better looking than mine. Mine does the job on my engine though.

I remember the day when cars and trucks used single belts and these tools were in every shade tree mechanic's tool box. They seem to be as rare as hen's teeth now. Modern vehicles use serpentine belts with their own tensioners.

 

[dach side]

Bay view, that is exactly what I saw. Any idea where they're sold?

 

[High Wire]

Bay view, that is exactly what I saw. Any idea where they're sold?

Post # 10

 

[bayview]

Bay view, that is exactly what I saw. Any idea where they're sold?

I don't want to violate any rules by posting links but if you search for belt jack you will find it.

 

[jwnall]

I don't want to violate any rules by posting links but if you search for belt jack you will find it.

Nothing wrong with posting links. It is done all the time.

 

[bayview]

OK then, here is the link to one source for a belt jack

Belting Accessories | MSCDirect.com