Belt squeal with ORO york bracket and idler

[sab]

Then check the tensioning idler. It should take pretty good effort to move it.

I just realized the statement above is confusing as written. The tensioning idler should spin freely, but when you insert a socket wrench to move it, it should take good effort to move it. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Ken Perkins]

got my ORO mount used about 5 years ago...squelled and kept throwing belts...changed pullyies and different belt combinations...last time I just happen to pop the hood and saw the belt starting to walk off again, had one rib off and ripped up so Just cut that rib off. Now running a belt with 5 ribs...for 2 years ..no squeaks or squeals

 

[D M]

Ended up driving and smelling coolant. Somehow cracked my radiator in the center. I feel a 72 or 74 mm pulley would work but idk the part numbers or if they even work

 

[D M]

Weird how right when i replace the pulleu i get the constant squealing, goes away, pull over and check and i see a small piss stream coming from the radiator behind the fan, hitting the manifold

 

[sab]

Ended up driving and smelling coolant. Somehow cracked my radiator in the center. I feel a 72 or 74 mm pulley would work but idk the part numbers or if they even work

Back when I was installing mine, I searched the entire Gates catalog, and I didn’t find any smooth pulleys in that width and bearing center bore other than 70mm and 76mm. I didn’t check any other manufacturers.

 

[Mall'er]

I am going to bring this back up. I just solved this exact issue on my jeep. I installed a ORO OBA on my 04 LJ several years ago. I have the old bracket.

My belt noise didn't start until six months or so after the OBA install, so I didn't think that was the issue.
Did all the usual, replace pulleys, tensioner and belts. Every time I made a change, the noise went away for a hundred miles or so, but always came back.

I noticed on the factory idler pulley, the belt was riding more towards the block than I liked. I put a washer behind the spacer for the idler, and I noticed that once I did that, the idler pulley was wobbling a ton. Closer look, and the ORO bracket interferes with the idler pulley spacer. It was very exaggerated with the washer spacer and made the issue much more obvious. I filed down the edge of the washer to fit next to the ORO bracket and reinstalled the idler pulley.

Squeak reduced dramatically, only happens when cold, and is getting better. I suspect if I replaced the belt again, I wouldn't even have that. If I still get the squeak cold, I will replace the belt, but I want to see what happens. I suspect the issue will go away once the pulleys and belts clean themselves.

I can go take a picture of my "fix" if people are interested.

The other option would be to clearance the ORO bracket, but I wasn't really interested in removing it to grind an edge. Plus I wanted the idler pulley to be spaced out a bit.

 

[sab]

I can go take a picture of my "fix" if people are interested.

Oh, yes, please!

 

[Mall'er]

Here you can see the washer I added. The idler spacer is very close and you can see where it can interfere with the ORO bracket.

 

[sab]

Thanks, Mall'er! I looked at mine, and it may be the source of the occasional single chirp I hear:

I'll do some grinder work and see if it stops the chirp...

 

[Mall'er]

Cool! Hope it takes care of your issue also. Mine made noise all the time. It was really annoying to drive the jeep because of it.

 

[sab]

I tapered the base and painted it. Now I have clearance:

Unfortunately, I won't know if this fixed the chirp for a while. The LJ is in a state of metamorphosis...