Belt removal?

[xk49]

The service manual says the following:

Belt tension is not adjustable. Belt adjustment is main-
tained by an automatic ( spring load ) belt tensioner.
1. Disconnect negative battery cable from battery.
2. Rotate belt tensioner (6) counterclockwise until it
contacts it’s stop. Remove belt, then slowly rotate
the tensioner into the freearm position.

Do you grab the tensioner with your hand and and pull? I tried and it didn't budge. As a matter of fact, it looks like if a try to rotate that arm counter clockwise it looks like it would put more tension on the belt. Do have to loosen the bolt that holds it on first before rotating?

[Hemi31]

You use a 3/8 drive bar to move the tensioner.

I said it before and I am going to say it again.........if you are not comfortable(familiar) working on these cars I would see if there is someone close to you willing to give you a hand......this is not exactly the type of thing you want to learn on.

[cleary524]

There's a 3/8" drive square hole on the face of the tensioner. Insert a 3/8" breaker bar or even a rachet into it and turn in the appropriate direction to lessen the tension on the belt and then slide the belt off. Be sure to pay close attention to how the belt is wrapped around the other pulleys. There's really only one way you can put the belt on, but I've seen some struggle with getting a belt back on.

Ditto ^ to Hemi31

[Super T]

^ What they said. You can get the "tool" for $10, it's just flat bar stock w/ the 3/8" drive welded to the end - but if you have a breaker bar already, use that. It doesn't move much, just enough to take the tension off the belt. You obviously rotate it in the direction that moves the pulley away from the belt - if the manual says counter then I believe it, I don't remember off-hand. Whatever you do, make sure the wrench you're using is good and stuck in the hole in the tensioner, and don't put your fingers between the tensioner and the belt when there's slack, just in case the wrench loses grip and it snaps back.

[slideway]

Put a long 3/8 drive rachet in it at 9:00 clock(AM or PM don't matter,lol)Pull up till 11:00 clock and pull the belt off the pulley, That's the easy part though. Puttin' it back on is the hard part!

[xk49]

Belt's off. Boy things a hell of a lot easier when you know what to do.
Thanks for the help!

[2005rtmag]

Most of us learn things by trying. Don't be afraid to do it yourself unless it is something that it's obvious that it should be left to the pros.

I learned on the old cars that were so simple starting with my 56 Chev convertible. I rebuilt the engine in that thing when I was 19. Somehow it ran great for 7k miles until I traded it. If I had to start learning on today's cars, I don't know if i would bother. They are so hard to work on in general. But, changing belts is one of the jobs that is much easier than the old days.