replace fan belt

[creamy]

i feel like an idiot asking this question, but how do i loosen of the tension and re tension it once i have changed it?
it is vn v6.
i have never owned anything newer then a vl before, so this is all new to me.

[PRH]

dont worry bout it m8,the belt is tensioned by a spring loaded tensioner,fit and forget lol
Phillip

[creamy]

fit and forget?
do i just cut the old one of then fit the new one?
i gather i will be able to push or pull something to release tension in order to fit new one?

[creamy]

found a good detailed description in another thread.
should've looked in search first.
thanks though

[50LTRv8]

If it is anything like a falcon spring loaded tensioner then you should be able to find a pully with a square hole for a socket rachet to go into.

Push away from the belt and you should be able to remove it no worries. I wish I had a pic for you but couldn't find one

50LTRv8

[Morton]

Nah, not quite. But close.

It's got an (18mm?) socket on the tensioner pulley, which you slip onto a breaker bar or a ratchet with the appropriate socket. Then, from the driver's side of the engine bay, pull the bar toward yourself and it will release the tension.

It's possible to hold the tensioner back and fit a belt yourself with a bit of practice

[Kruza]

but dont let the ratchet hit u in the face when leaning over to put belt on
done that b4 haha dam that hurt lol

[creamy]

i found this in another thread,
a user called "fallen"
take a good look at how the belt is on the car. now with a socket and ratchet put it on the bolt head in the middle of the tensioner. this is the pulley between the power steering pump and alternator, essentially the one in the middle up the top. now you want your ratchet to be pointing towards the rh (drivers side) guard, about horizontal. now with all your muscle in your left arm push it anti clockwise and the pulley will rise up. with your other hand whilst this is happening pull the belt off of the top of the water pump pulley (the one in the middle half way down). ease off the tensioner pulley and take the belt off. instalation is pretty much a reversal. with your new belt thread it around the pulleys as the other one was, paying particular attention to making sure it sits right on the a/c compressor (bottom right), alternator (top right) harmonic balancer (bottom centre) and p/s pulley. leave the belt off the water pump pulley for now but have it sitting so its ready to be slipped over. now do the same thing with the socket and ratchet again to the tensioner pulley. with your free hand move the belt over the top of the water pump pulley. ease off the tensioner and then check the belt is sitting right in all the pulleys, the grooves in the belt running in the grooves in the pulleys and the belt up against the rear lip of the pulley..
thanks for the help everyone, is much apreciated as always

[peter65]

btw.... in an emergency... you can use the wheel brace to pull up on the tensioner. the head on the tensioner nut is a very similar (slightly smaller) size than that on the wheel nuts. cheers peter