Serpentine belt tool

[ajchien]

Well, Id like to change my serpentine belt on a honda 03 crv. belt tools from GW are $60 and from HF $20. I'm kinda cheap.

The two wrench interlocked trick doesnt seem to work, since Ill be pulling clockwise instead of counterclockwise.

Has anyone considered taking a wrench, putting the box end on the tensioner, and duct taping a 1/2 in breaker bar inserted into the 14mm open end as a makeshift tool?

Or maybe I should just get a sepentine belt tool.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

The GJ thing to do is spend $70 on a tool for just this use and very little else.

http://www.tooltopia.com/schley-68170.aspx

 

[mrholeshot]

I have the Gearwrench serp tool I bought 7 years ago. One of the best investments ever. About 50 dollars. I havent seen much it wont work on.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

If you are using the tool ONCE, get the HarFreight/Performance Tool... if you plan on using it more than ONCE, get the GearWrench. Lisle used to make a decent bar/handle, don't know if they do anymore.

Don't forget to get the serpentine belt/pulley laser alignment kit too!

If you can fit a ratchet in there, then maybe picking up a long extension/breaker would be a better investment since you can use the extension/breaker for many other things.

 

[Danglerb]

First make sure a long breaker bar and a socket won't do the job, then I would consider the HF. The "tool" is a flat steel bar a couple feet long with a 1/2" drive nub on one end, and some crowsfoot wrenches.

 

[Shadowdog500]

How are you locking the wrenches together, that they only work in one direction,

I usually lock the box end of the wrench i am pulling on to the open end of the wrench that is on the bolt and never remember there being an issue.

I also tend to use a socket and a breaker bar for tensioners.




Chris

 

[Fedwrench]

For infrequent use, the harbor freight model should work well. I think it's often on sale. If not there's the ever popular 20% off coupon. Check Ebay for one. You could also buy your belt at Vato Zone ( it would be a pos belt though) and borrow one of their belt kits from their loan a tool program.

 

[srmofo]

use some worm/hose clamps to hold the breaker bar to the wrench. Nut driver or socket to get them nice and tight.

I used to use my gearwrench set all the time, but its getting tough to use on some of the newer vehicles.

 

[scott37300]

use some worm/hose clamps to hold the breaker bar to the wrench. Nut driver or socket to get them nice and tight.

I used to use my gearwrench set all the time, but its getting tough to use on some of the newer vehicles.

Can you explain some of the issues on newer cars? I also have the gearwrench tool and it's worked good on everything I've tried it on. But havent' had to try it on any newer vehicles yet. What tool do you use when the gearwrench won't work?

 

[Goinlow]

Why don't you make a tool? Get a wrench and cut the box end off and weld a long piece of steel or another wrench to it. I made a tool for the serp belts on ford 3.0 engines in taurus's

 

[srmofo]

Can you explain some of the issues on newer cars? I also have the gearwrench tool and it's worked good on everything I've tried it on. But havent' had to try it on any newer vehicles yet. What tool do you use when the gearwrench won't work?

clearance between the frame rails and the tensioner. I usually resort to a combo wrench and some good ol' elbow grease and nut buster grunting. Keep in mind I usually change at least 1 belt a day and I work in an independent shop so I see all makes and models. Still a great tool, dont get me wrong but those pesky engineers keep making my job harder and harder

 

[kythri]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941831000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

Worked out well for me on a couple different Fords...

 

[nate379]

I have a 18 or 20" long ratchet, that is all I use.

 

[ajchien]

I'm an idiot, @Chris - yes the two wrench trick does work. I was just fiddling with it the wrong way.

However, after test fitting it, I still might get the HF tool. I don't think I want to be pulling on a slightly wobbly two wrench set up while pulling on a belt at the same time.

All my regular ratchets and breaker bars and sockets/crows feet simply don't fit in the tight space.

 

[Toolhorder]

Matco makes a Honda combo serp. tool that's 14mm on one side and 19mm on the other but has a bend in the tool for leverage. Works on most of the newer Hondas. Used it today in fact on a 98 V6 Accord. A must for Odysseys. I recommend it over the Schley tool or the HF/Gearwrench universals.
Here's the link, second one down.

http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2337&select=&page=3

 

[treasureseeker]

I have a 2003 Accord and have the same issue with no room for general mechanics tools and used the two wrench trick. I don’t do enough mechanic work to warrant buying the Serpentine tool.

 

[Toolhorder]

I have a 2003 Accord and have the same issue with no room for general mechanics tools and used the two wrench trick. I don’t do enough mechanic work to warrant buying the Serpentine tool.

Yeah I worked at the dealer so it was cheaper than the OEM tool to get the Matco. OEM tool is made by Snap On actually and then Honda marks it up and then my dealer charges me 10% so I just got it from Matco.

 

[HandyManny]

Buy the special tool. It may cost you as much as the belt itself but it will be a hell of a lot cheaper than paying a mechanic an inflated price for changing out your belt. Some will charge you by how many pulleys you have, believe me. As long as you drive a vehicle that has a belt you'll find that tool handy in the future too. Hondas tend to last a while so you might get a good 4 uses out of that tool on one vehicle, but you'll also have it for the next one too.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941831000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

Worked out well for me on a couple different Fords...

This seems like a good deal to me, worth it to pay 10 bucks more for craftsman.

 

[Professur]

The tensioner on the '93 Caravan 3.3l is a chrome plated beach to get to as well. My longest 15mm barely makes it. Any longer and it wouldn't sweep far enough to release it, any shorter and there wouldn't be enough leverage to move it at all. I came very close to drilling a hole though the inner fender to get a socket in there ... but couldn't figure a way to pull the bar, and reach the belt at the same time without lying under the wheel.

 

[ajchien]

Thanks for all the opinions. I did my belt yesterday. I wound up putting the box end of a 14mm combination wrench on the tensioner, and then putting a 1/2 in drive 15 inch length breaker bar into the open end as extra leverage.