Maybe its Friday or I'm stupid, but I can't figure the RAVE technique for slackening the fan belt. I need to get at my alternator (suspected failing front bearing- replacement?), but the tensioner idler seems to resist my attempts at de-tensioning.

Any tips and techniques?

 

Should be able to put a wrench on the shaft that holds the pulley, and just move the pully to a loose position.

 

It takes some effort. Use the longest wrench/ratchet you can find. Cause Torque = Force X Distance

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Still don't get it- there's a 1/2" bolt that holds the tension idler pulley (and its spring housing) to the engine block. The tensioner works fine- leaning hard on the belt causes it to move ans take up the slack etc. Now, I want to "disengage" this tensioner. RAVE sez wrench the 1/2" bolt clockwise. This is weird, because that TIGHTENS it- and it's already tight.If I undo the bolt, nothing happens except that the bolt starts coming out of the pulley arm- the tensioner doesn't slacken or let off tension. What am I missing here?

 

There should be a bolt on the pulley. I felt a little cooped up in the house, so I went out and pulled my cowling and took a pic for you. The arrow points to the nut to turn clockwise to loosen tension.

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OK, I get it- thanks Disc. I was attacking the bolt that holds the arm to the engine (hidden in your pic).

It's a balmy 80 degs down here in the Caribbean- no chance of being cooped up!