Vortech idler pulleys seizing and belts breaking

[cb7tuner]

Originally Posted by cb7tuner

It may work but I'm unsure. Im hesitant on it without the ridges/lips though, I figure they are there for a reason. I also think the kit needs a slightly smaller belt to. After the upgraded compressors were released with the 9psi pulleys the belts were still never changed. So with a slightly smaller pulley I figure the tensioner isn't as tight. I think the gates belt is 98.110" long , maybe a 97.5" or 98" would be better

I truly don't think this is a rubbing issue, at least in my case I know it wasn't. Just a random bad idler pulley is the culprit. May just be a bad batch

[nelsmar]

Originally Posted by skatery1989

I checked mine this morning. There's a little wear spot on the pipe but I notices if you make sure to push it in till it hits the throttle biddy it self there's alot more room. I do have to say I am disappointed in Vortech service latley I have been trying to contact the guy that sold me my kit for about two months now.

who sold you the kit?

And i had my few bits and issues i still need to talk to Brian again i just havent gotten an organized list. I as well had pushed my pipe as close to the throttle as i could if i remember correctly. I was just trying to make sure i had enough "slip room" in my coupler.

[cb7tuner]

Hell I still don't even have the revised alternator bracket. I had to grind a good but out of my alternator casting to get it to fit properly

[charged86]

Originally Posted by cb7tuner

My pulley has not touched anything, i don't even think the pipe could touch the idler pulley if I wanted it to. It's ground down because the belt has jumped from the idler wiggling (because bearings failed) and caused the belt to ride on the lip of the idler. Then causing the idler to act like a saw hacking up the belt and taking chunks of the lip with it. My pulley hasn't touched anything. Oh and mine was in perfect shape a few days ago as well.....then it happened. No way it could be installation error. The pulley is pre installed on the blower assembly (but every bolt was checked to be tight before installation like the instructions say to do so) and nothing was loose when I removed the bad parts. I'm an A&P licensed aircraft mechanic. I'm very methodical in my installations. Like I've already stated, its really not that big a deal to me because it was a cheap easy fix. I just don't like how the situation was treated in my personal case by vortech and I would like to warn others of potential future problems and where to get replacement parts with part #s

Ok well that's good for you. What I meant was for the people who have rubbing pulleys in pipes that's instalation error. Just because you are an aircraft mechanic dose not make you immune to "mistakes". Apparently you got a bad pulley. Also the installation error would be installing the pipe too close to the pulley


Also if people start putting in metal pulleys and that pulley rubs the pipe it may rub through the pipe. So take care to anyone who installs a metal pulley.

[cb7tuner]

Originally Posted by charged86

Ok well that's good for you. What I meant was for the people who have rubbing pulleys in pipes that's instalation error. Just because you are an aircraft mechanic dose not make you immune to "mistakes". Apparently you got a bad pulley. Also the installation error would be installing the pipe too close to the pulley


Also if people start putting in metal pulleys and that pulley rubs the pipe it may rub through the pipe. So take care to anyone who installs a metal pulley.

My point is... This thread is about failing pulleys and defective parts, it wasn't started because of a pulley rubbing on pipes (i agree that is install error) but it is somewhat related . And not once did I say I don't make mistakes but in my line of work, mistakes cost people their lives. So I tend to triple check things and be more thorough than a lot of others I know. Never said you or anyone else don't know what your doing so no need to get defensive

[jamesm]

the dude in the video is lucky he checked it when he did. doesn't look like it'd have been long before that pipe had rubbed all the way though, probably sending all sort of little metal bits through the throttle body in the process.

[F1point4]

Here is mine this morning. Had some strange looks from my neighbors as I was swearing at my phone to take the damn picture

Top side. Both edges of the pulley look good.

20130709-VortechBeltClearance-001 by VictorN07, on Flickr

The engine was completely cold, but I have clearance

20130709-VortechBeltClearance-002 by VictorN07, on Flickr

[cb7tuner]

It may be beneficial to put a very small indention into the pipe where the contact points are closest to the 2 pulleys for the rubbing issue. It couldn't effect flow that much and I'd rather have that compared to a pipe with a hole in it

[charged86]

Originally Posted by cb7tuner

It may be beneficial to put a very small indention into the pipe where the contact points are closest to the 2 pulleys for the rubbing issue. It couldn't effect flow that much and I'd rather have that compared to a pipe with a hole in it

I was thinking this too heat up the aluminum a little and give it a tap with a dead blow. Emphasis on the word tap. Hahha so do you think the metal pulley would have better bearings because the pulley is heavier than the plastic

[Pete]

I checked mine just now in the parking lot, belt & pulley both look good. I took some pics but I can't post 'em till I get home.

Does it sound reasonable to you guys that I may have more clearance because I swapped engine mounts?

[cb7tuner]

Originally Posted by charged86

I was thinking this too heat up the aluminum a little and give it a tap with a dead blow. Emphasis on the word tap. Hahha so do you think the metal pulley would have better bearings because the pulley is heavier than the plastic

Exactly how i would do it, but as far as the metal pulley goes I have no clue. Just because its metal doesn't mean the bearings are any better. Someone be the guinea pig

[reyruiz191]

I'm curious to see how many people are having issues due to an actual part failure such as the bearing in the pully seizing. So far we know of one instance and some others are just having issues with the pully rubbing the intake pipe. I checked mine last night immediately after looking at this thread and everything looks good with clearance between the pipe and pulley.

[cb7tuner]

I Believe member "tg_1981" pulley seized up on him and broke his belt to

[charged86]

Fa20club turbo kit looking real dam good about now