All About Pulleys
A serpentine system must constantly have tension on the belt in order tofunction properly. Controlling the tension is done in one of two ways.Most factory systems incorporate self-adjusting tensioners, while manyaftermarket kits use a manual tensioning system consisting of adjustablerod ends. Most serpentine systems incorporate one or more idler pulleysthat reduce the belt travel between accessories and allow the belt tofollow a closed loop. Ideally, you don't want to have more than 18inches between accessories or you increase the chances of belt flap,which can cause the belt to be thrown. The main advantage to the self-adjuster is its ability to keep tension on the belt as it stretchesthrough normal wear. With a manually tensioned system, the belt tensionmust be monitored and adjusted periodically. The biggest mistake when itcomes to manually applying tension on the belt comes fromover-tightening. The belt should not be too tight--about 1/4 inch ofmovement in either direction is good. View Related Article
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