Idler pulley bolt

[kingdude]

does the idler pulley bolt turns clocwise or counterclock to come off on a 1995 ford taurus

[shorod]

Welcome to the forum!

Since your post really had nothing to do with the thread you posted in, I've moved your post to a new thread.

I'm not positive on your '95 Taurus, but usually the idler pulley bolt loosens normally, counterclockwise.

-Rod

[Colt Hero]

Just replaced the bearing on my '97 idler pulley about two months ago. Have to agree with Shorod. Can't remember having to turn it the opposite way to get it off. I think it came off normally - counterclockwise.

I assume you're having the same problem I did: noise from the pulley. Just buy the bearing and reuse the old pulley. Don't buy the plastic replacement junk from AutoZone or Advance Auto - or even the metal pulley from NAPA (which is slightly narrower). The bearing is only around $3-$5.

[tripletdaddy]

Hey, I got one of those! And I'd rather not discuss how many of those idlers I've changed!?! It's lefty loosy, righty tighty. CW in, CCW out. Right handed threads. There is no need in this application to have a left handed thread.

[rastoma]

I hope someone here may have subscribed to this thread and see this. I just started a new thread about a problem with an idler pulley on my 97 taurus 3.0 standard.

What keeps the pulley spaced so that it still turns freely after tightening? When I installed the replacement pulley, as soon as I tighten it, the pulley freezes and won't turn.

[Colt Hero]

I think that's the way it is. Mine didn't spin freely either.

[tripletdaddy]

Originally Posted by rastoma

I hope someone here may have subscribed to this thread and see this. I just started a new thread about a problem with an idler pulley on my 97 taurus 3.0 standard.

What keeps the pulley spaced so that it still turns freely after tightening? When I installed the replacement pulley, as soon as I tighten it, the pulley freezes and won't turn.

The pulley should turn with some effort with the belt off if the pulley bearing is new or repacked. It should not be stuck or seem like it is dragging on something or very difficult to turn by hand. Something may be misaligned that which holds it in place, or as you suggest, it may be missing a washer, thereby dragging on the face of the engine.

What I have access to and experience with, is the 95 and earlier Taurii and their related manuals, but the idler pulley, not to be confused with the tensioner pulley (found above the idler in the earlier 3.0l models), should be similar enough to hopefully assume they have the same pulley arrangements. I checked for certain there is a holding type of washer behind the pulley bearing that "threads" onto the bolt that passes through the pulley and to the engine, to help hold the bolt, pulley and large washer together and to shim out the pulley from the engine.. This washer is similar in dimensions to a fender washer. Its OD is not as large as the OD of the bearing. Its ID is just big enough to fit over the bolt. In addition, there is a large dished washer under the bolt head to facilitate holding the pulley bearing. I would estimate the washer on mine could be replaced with a fender washer that is a minimum of 1 mm thick (0.04") with the above described diameters. Too think of a washer may misalign the pulley and belt.