A/C belt tension

On my 97 Bounder F53 chassis the tensioner is not adjustable. You may have to replace the whole unit. I recently had to replace the pulley on mine. If the spring was weak, I would have to replace the whole unit.

There should be a bolt on the bracket side of the small block. Slightly loosen it. Then turn the long bolt counter-clockwise. That should tighten belt.
You may have to loosen the pivoting bolts on the bottom of the compressor.
No belt tensioner on 7.4 TBI GMs in this vintage.

enblethen wrote:
There should be a bolt on the bracket side of the small block. Slightly loosen it. Then turn the long bolt counter-clockwise. That should tighten belt.
You may have to loosen the pivoting bolts on the bottom of the compressor.
No belt tensioner on 7.4 TBI GMs in this vintage.

Thanks, I was thinking that was how it was done. There is another bolt on the lower drivers side on the compressor. I believe that is the pivot point but I wasn't sure whether or not it needed to be loosened first.

That belt run the power steering as well?

Looks like the adjustment screw is all the way tight. The belt looks too narrow as it sits way in the groove. Probably too long but the width could be the issue.

Any chance that pulley needs two belts? Get a matched set in the right size then it will adjust fine.

time2roll wrote:
Looks like the adjustment screw is all the way tight. The belt looks too narrow as it sits way in the groove. Probably too long but the width could be the issue.

Any chance that pulley needs two belts? Get a matched set in the right size then it will adjust fine.

I had them installed at an RV shop ~2 years ago in Ventura, Ca. at http://www.candsrv.com/

I can't imagine they put in the incorrect items. It was the same set up prior to replacing them with new ones. I had them replace them when I rebuilt the drive shaft. They came highly recommended.

The A/C runs fine I was only curious as to it's adjustment if needed. Hard to tell in the pic but there's slightly more than 1/4 in left in the adjustment side.

The following is for 93-95 P30 belt route on my set up with A/C...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fjep1i3jm6qf11i/93-95%20P30%207.4L%20belt%20route.gif?dl=0

Notice that on page 219 of the service manual it only shows belt spec for fan belt, Generator belt up to 1990 (1340mm).

https://www.gmcmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/P30-Chassis-Manual.pdf

What about later years?

That manual sure seems strange. I didn't see much info after they switched from 454 to 7.4.
Here is link to Gates belts

enblethen wrote:
There should be a bolt on the bracket side of the small block. Slightly loosen it.

You might have to loosen the pivot bolt also,