Gates idler pulley install... silly question

[WBacon]

Which way does it go on??? The bearings press in from one side and bottom out against the inside of the pulley on a lip. Does the side with the fully exposed bearing go against the spacer or does the lipped side of the pulley go towards the spacer. Also, do you guys reuse the factory washer/dust cover that goes under the bolt head. If thats the case then the pulley will only go on with the lip towards the spacer/engine. Otherwise the washer will hit against the lip. SOOOOOOO simple yet so confusing. I can see that I need a longer bolt as well. Any thoughts??

 

[Kry226]

Just did this about a month ago. I reused all hardware. The pulley will only go on CORRECTLY one way. If you tightent down the bolt and the pulley won't spin freely, it's on backwards. Remove and flip 180 degrees and reinstall. The pulley should spin freely after the bolt is properly torqued.



By the way, this would also be a good time to replace the serpentine belt and check your tensioner/pulley assembly. I actually replaced all three at the same time, which in retrospect, is the only way I'll ever do belt/pulley maintenance again.

 

[WBacon]

I am doing the water pump, tensioner, belt, t-stat and idler. You are correct. If you put it on one way the washer tightens down against the pulley and it will not spin. That was fairly obvious. I am wondering which way people are installing it. If you use the washer it only goes one way. Maybe thats the answer. Not sure if you need to get rid of the washer and install it the other way. The washer appears to have been more of a dust sheild for the original pulley.

 

[Kry226]

Wasn't trying to overstate the obvious, but yes use the washer. Your pulley should have came with a spacer and pulley. Use the new spacer as the pulley has a different offset, then use your old washer and bolt.