Freakin A/C belt size

[Das Delfin]

Okay I'm putting an A/C belt on my M20 using stock compressor etc. I have a 13x825 but I can't for the life of me get the belt over both the crank pulley and the A/C pulley. I had the same problem with the water pump/alt belt and I ended up removing the water pump pulley, inserting the belt in the pulley, and bolting the pulley back on. Crazy.

I don't know if I can do that with the A/C pulley and I'm not going to take the crank pulley off because then I'll have to mess with the water pump puley again. Can I just loosen the 13mm on the front of the A/C compressor? and put the pulley back on with the belt around it? I'm worried about damaging the compressor or not having enough room to fit the pulley on with the belt attached

Any suggestions for a different belt size? I went to autozone and the next size up wasn't metric and is a bit too loose with the tensioner fully extended. I put on new tensioners etc today.

This is the last step before I can charge my A/C system!

[Das Delfin]

nvm. This became much easier after I set my purse down

[Economy Sport]

Prior to doing my timing belt recently, I had read what a PITA the air compressor belt was. So when I removed all three drive belts, I didn't bother with the adjustment bolts, I just used a screwdriver to gently pry them off while turning the crankshaft bolt. Since I was replacing all the belts, I wanted to save the old ones for emergency spares (so no cutting them off). When I put the new belts on, I simply used a screwdriver with one hand while turning the crankshaft bolt with the other. It's actually easier than it sounds.

My air compressor belt is also 13 x 825.

[Das Delfin]

What worked for me is getting the belt around the top of the a/c compressor (as I was laying on the floor under the car) and pulling it toward the bottom, then twisting/pushing the belt with the palm of my hand into the pulley. Not unlike what I had to do to get the timing belt back on

[jeffnhiscars]

There's actually quite a bit of adjustment with a stock compressor. Did you back off all the bolts holding in in place ?

[Economy Sport]

In one of the DYI guides I read prior to doing my timing belt, the old AC belt couldn't be removed (let alone putting a new one on) with the adjustment loosened to max:

"The old A/C belt was on so tight that I had to cut if off, as I couldn't fit it over the pulley to remove it. The problem was that I couldn't releive tension on the pulley, because the adjustment mechanism was maxed out in the "loose" position when the belt was fully tensioned! I read about "rolling on" the belt, which is where you put the car in gear and have someone push it so that the pulley turns, making it easier to slip the belt on. I tried this, but my new OE belt was so hopelessly short that even this didn't work. I finally got fed up and went to the auto parts store and bought a Gates 1/2 in. (12.5mm-13mm) width belt that was 2 inches longer than the OE belt. This one slipped right on. I tensioned it and it's worked beautifully ever since. Go figure."

From this excellent page:

http://www.angelfire.com/blues2/bimmer/maint/tbelt/timingbelt.html

[funcrew]

Same problem here. I just went to Autozone and got them to physically hang up my old BMW belt, and pick the next couple 13mm wide sizes bigger. Worked perfectly, and there was no chance with the 13X210 that pelican parts sold me.

[audiquattrot]

had this issue as well. Not even close to fitting. Put the old one back on + a prayer.

[Das Delfin]

Apparently there were revisions through the years. I was using the biggest, 13x825, and got it to go on swearing the whole way through. Was still easier than getting the water pump belt on though