VT V6 Idler pulley confusion.

[jindy]

My 1998 VT V6 idler pulley was making a racket. I check out what's available on Ebay and the new pulleys on offer are a different size than mine.
Checked with Repco's computer and it says that the pulleys for the VT are...

Pulley #1 76 17 31

Pulley #2 is 90 17 30.

And both off Repco's pulleys are flat metal and have no grooves. One of mine has grooves.Does anyone know the correct size of these pulleys and will no grooves make any difference?

Also which size is the #1 top pulley -I think my pulleys locations may be reversed.

[accentstencil]

The top one is the tensioner pulley. It does matter if it has grooves. You don't need to know the sizes to get the correct pulley.
Print out the diagram below and go to Holden and tell them which one you want, the cost of these is comparable to Repco anyway.

[jindy]

Yeah thanks for the reply Accent but I am talking about the two idler pulleys that are on top of each other on the passenger side of the motor.

My #1 (top) pulley is flat and is 82mm.The #2 (lower) is 6 ribbed or grooved and is 76 mm From what I have been reading online there is just
something not right with this from what I have been reading in the Ebay ads.

[jindy]

Incidentally Accent good idea re the Holden dealer, unfortunately it's 5 hour round trip to the nearest one.

[CAPRILICIOUS WL]

My #1 (top) pulley is flat and is 82mm.The #2 (lower) is 6 ribbed or grooved and is 76 mm From what I have been reading online there is just
something not right with this from what I have been reading in the Ebay ads.

What I just changed the top pulley on my neighbors vx and I am more than 100% sure that the top one is ribbed and smaller than the one underneath it which isn't ribbed.

Thats strange, take a pic if u can.

[pablo]

The grooved side of the drive belt MUST run in corresponding grooved pulleys. The flat back of the belt must run against flat pulleys.

[Brett_jjj]

The top idler pulley should be ribbed,the lower idler pulley should be smooth. If you have the metal type pulleys instead of the plastic type, you can just replace the bearings in these pulleys when they wear out.All I needed was a set of snapring/circlip pliers. I paid around $5 each for new bearings for my 2 idler pulleys from the local bearing place.. The metal type tensioner pulley also has a replaceable bearing and only costs around the same as the others.

[Cameron P]

Lol I went to repco to get a new one aswell and I told then which one I needed. The idiot behind the counter brought out 3 pulleys and asked me if it is any of them... And it wasn't, so he said he dowsnt know what I'm after then. Obviously it was a waste of time even going there. I then went to an automotive bearing place and they got me the right one straight away

Moral of the story... Don't go to repco unless you know what you need..

[jindy]

Thanks for all the good info folks. I actually nailed down the correct one at Repco .The Repco top #1 idler [U ]groove[/U] pulley is RPU 530. 76 mm.I would have
done the replace the bearings thing as you suggest Brett but there ain't no bearing shop within 180 k's of where I live and I needed the car fixed pronto.
Thanks again all.

[BowTie]

Sorry Jindy, only just saw the thread.

Mack's Tyre and Auto in Cooma keep them in stock.

If you have a look the bearings in them are replaceable. Once pressed out and cleaned, you can easily read the bearing number and pickup all 3 bearings next time you go to Canbrah from 'consolidated bearings'(i think).

The bearing are $30 versus $80-100 for the full pulley set. Hell easy to do.

Those bearings have a habit of going on long trips so its nice to carry spares when you live in the bush.

[jindy]

Yeah thanks BowTie re 'consolidated bearings. Good idea to keep some spares in the car too.

[BowTie]

Yeh, they go on powder days on the way up the mountain.

[vtv6]

I know that they changed the pulley that is near he aircon to a bigger pulley on the series II with meant you need a bigger belt