Rory Breaker

Well, Im hoping the SC hasnt taken a dive, as Im not sure of the symptoms.
At WOT, I will reach 7PSI on the boost guage, and it decreases at 5K+ RPM all the way down to 0-1PSI at redline. The charger whines down as well, Im definitely losing boost, no kinks or anything in the line.

Recently upon deceleration and certain RPMs Im also hearing a very faint squeal/whine. I JUST replaced the belts and retensioned 10x (Goodyear Gatorback belts), so the belts arent toast. Im going to go pick up some Dayco belts tomorrow and see if that changes anything. I cant imagine its a tension problem, the SOBs are crazy tight. I also tried loosening up my SC belt a bit, no dice.

Any thoughts? Im hoping the blower isnt taking a dive...I havent had consistent boost with these Gatorback belts since I put them on, so Im hoping they arent kosher and the problems solved.

falcongsr

sounds like the SC belt is too loose or the wonderful jackson belt tensioners are dying. or both.

Rory Breaker

I tried a bunch of different tension levels...ranging from loose to as tight as a human hand can make that idler pulley.

You think the tensioner pulley(s) went bad? How does that happen?

Sonny

Do you have the new style plastic pullies or the old skool metal ones? My metal ones wore out pretty fast. Apparently the original design was with plastic pullies, but they had crap bearings. Then the metal ones came along with good bearings, but the pulley itself wore out.

Have you checked to see if you can spin each tensioner pulley easily...how about spinning the SC itself?

Sonny

airborne84000

actually they arent plastic are they???? I thought the new ones were Nylon..

Rory Breaker

My metal pullies wore out a while ago, Im using the plastic pulleys.

The pulleys spin pretty freely...as freely as they ever did before. Im going to spray some lubricant inside and see if that eliminates the squeak temporarily, and if it does JR will be getting a call. These things havent even lasted 20k...think they'll warranty them?

Would the idler pulley bearings going bad prevent them from keeping proper tension @ high RPMS?

Rory Breaker

The pulleys dont seem to be the problem.

I am thinking that the Gatorback crank--->alt belt I recently put on just isnt right. Im a bit iffy about the tension...it wont get any tighter, yet the belt still feels a bit loose by hand. Im going to pick up another belt and see if that makes any difference...I havent been able to keep proper tension since I popped these belts on.

Rory Breaker

What brand belts did you have the problem with?

sharkcohen

That would be strange if the Gatorback belt itself is the problem. I've never had trouble with mine, and JRSC owners I know that use them rave about them. Perhaps you were given the wrong size?

Rory Breaker

Unless they printed the wrong size on the belt, its right. Ive messed with JRSC belts for so friggin long I dont miss these types of things

Im going to try a new belt as soon as it stops raining (2004?) and see if that makes a difference. I also am going to try another tensioner screw on the alternator belt, which is different from the one included in the kit.

Flamenco-T

you need turbo Nick...simple as that LOL

stan

Rory Breaker

Haha man, Ive thought about it a lot before. But going 30k+ at various boost levels without any serious problems and a solid dyno...I cant give up.

When the charger goes though, its time for something new. No way in hell Im pulling that thing out, getting it rebuilt and putting it back on. When the charger goes, its an omen to try something new. As much as I love the setup, I am curious to play with new things

Anyway...swapped the gatorback alternator belt for a typical Dayco belt and voila, constant boost. Needless to say, Im not a Gatorback fan. Tension feels pretty much the same as well...I guess the Gatorback design just doesnt mesh with the pulley.