Belt squeal with ORO york bracket and idler
- Thread starter D M
- Start date
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
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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