Well, i went to change the alternator, did the usually, disconect batt, then go to the tensioner and get that belt off. Well as i did so, i didnt have enough play in the belt to get it off the alt, so I went alittle more then felt the bolt start to slip out of place as if it was loosing its torque inside the thread and then BAM hands went flying ratchet fell and bolt on the ground. I have the pulley/bearing off, and that little metal peice that serves as a big washer for the bolt on the end. What should I do? I looked an the whole tensioner assembly braket wraps around the whole 1 side of the engine. Maybe an easy out on the broken bolt

 

Can't tell if you're working on the V6 or 350. If the tensioner runs on the backside of the belt (most do) then it will have a left hand threaded bolt. Good luck finding a right-handed ez-out. Usually the part that pivots with the spring is removable since it vibrates with the A/C compressor. I'd replace the tensioner arm as an assembly.

 

workin on a 350 tpi. The tensioner itself has a star bolt in the middle which I think If i unbolt will then shoot the spring and will be dangerous. It's very hard to get in there, I think I may have to pull the radiator to get a straight angle at the bolt. SO what do you mean? If I was to put a bolt in then I would put it in couter clockwise for it to screw?

 

You should have been turning it counterclockwise when it broke, which would have just loosened the bolt if it had been RH thread Right?
The star bolt that holds the tensioner on will be REALLY tight. If you get a star tool at Autozone don't get the set of one-piece bits. THEY BREAK! Spend the bux and get the single bit the correct size. The tensioner (if it looks like this) is an assembly that won't fly apart. If you're not sure ask the parts guy to show you one (that's free).
It looks like this right?

 

Yeah exactley, now if I was to loosen that star and get the tensioner off the tensioners spring load wouldnt be changed or anything/fly off and hurt me would it?

 

and yes I was turning it left, So i dont get it. Why would they want you to turn the tensioner to the left to release the belt and then run into loosening the bolt by accident on the pulley.

 

You stick a 1/2 in ratchet in that square hole up top and then turn left to get the belt off the torx is to remove the whole tensioner.

 

Excuse me if I'm mistaken, but it sounds like you were turning the Torx bolt to loosen the tension on the belt? If so, that's a huge no no. As the post above me says, you need a 1/2 inch ratcher/breaker bar inserted in the little offshoot hole and then pull it left, or more precisely towards the passenger side. Once the belt is off, the tensioner should have no tension and then and only then should the torx bolt be removed to remove the tensioner.

 

i kno that now damn i'm a retard

 

yeah, not rubbing it in or anything, but thatta bees what the square is for. You get a hole lot more and reliable leverage against the spring, and your hands, and rest of your body that may come in contact with a flying tool will be much happier using this the right way.

Don't feel bad, at least you didn't give your self a black eye in the process. I had hours of fun with friend that did the same thing but wasn't furtunate enough to dodge the rapidly airborne wrench after doing the same thing

 

No, what I was saying is the bolt is left hand thread. Turning it to the left tightens it. If it was right hand you would have just broken it loose instead of breaking it off.

 

I dont remember mine being reverse threads when I took it off.

 

To clarify:
The bolt he broke is the bolt in the center of the pulley. Most of them are left hand thread. He was twisting it to the left (tightening) to release the tension on the belt when it broke.
The star bolt that holds the tensioner onto the bracket is right hand thread.

 

I thought he broke the star bolt?

 

Read the first post:
He didn't have a 1/2" ratchet handy and just put a wrench on the bolt in the middle of the pulley.

 

What i understood was when he was loosening the pulley bolt the star bolt broke that holds the tensioner so it was just weak but he still was not doing it the correct way.

 

Then he wrote this a few posts LATER...

 

I'm sorry, I just can't help it. I SWEAR I thought it was Mikey posting again.

 

Nope didnt brake the star bolt spdfrk, u miss understood its cool. WHat i did was the bolt on the pulley itself broke when i tried to use that and go left with it to relieve the tension and that broke. So the pulley slid off on its own. Problem solved, I went to the junkyard and got a whole nother tensioner, just got on the star bolt and it came right off, wa hoo.

 

Damn! We were just starting to have fun

 

By the way that bolt is standard threads I had mine off no reason to make it reverse since there is a bearing.

 

T-50 Torx bolt standard right hand thread. Take the belt off and it backs right off.

 

You do know you woke up a 8year old dead thread

 

Yes I do! LOL There was allot of talk and not any mention of the size tork bolt socket. It is slightly larger than a T-50 but smaller than the T-60 and I don't know if there is an in-between size.

 

T55 would be a mid way size and I suppose you have never heard of a t500 but that's smaller than 50 ! but like the thread states unless you are replacing the tensioner pulley witch is not a torx there is no need to remove it unless you are replacing the tensioner spring assembly.
gm 10055798 (M12X1.75X75,9.8)(PAN HD).

 

Sorry to jump on this thread didn't know where else to go I was trying to replace the tensioner star bit Bolt for a cleaner appearance with the rest of my ARP bolts but none will fit in the hole and be able to get a socket on it can you run just a longer bolt with a washer on the under side of the bolt head against the tensioner and it still be okay that way instead of having to use the star head bolt that just looks ugly black and rusty lol. just got through putting in a 427 and cleaning everything up in their wanted something nice ...thanks