Cruiser fan belt idler pulley seized

[alanrlow]

On my 1997 FZJ80, 1FZ-FE petrol engine there is a small idler pulley to the right and slightly above the crank pulley, (looking from front) ? It seems to only just contact the fan belts and not really tension them. In any case it is on the shorter run of the belts and very close to the crank so hard to see it as a tensioner. Well mine started squealing and then seized up. Although the belts just ran past it with no problems I removed it but couldn't obtain a bearing anywhere, seems genuine only. It's just two pieces of metal with a small captive bearing riveted between. Anyway it's been off for several hundred kilometers now with no ill effects. Any idea what its function is and can I forget about it?
Cheers,
Alan.

[matty87]

hi mate

if there is no way of tesioning this pully, what i mean as in moving the pully to apply tension to the belt then it is not a tensioner and is just an idler. i dont know a huge deal about the cruisers but have had to stik my head in the front end of our nissan patrol more times than i can remember and it as similar idlers whose only purpose is to direct the belt.

It might also be said that by putting an idler pully in then it will limit the vibration in the belt or more to the point increase the resonance frequencies of that section of the belt such that it is well outside the forcing frequencies expected in the system. sorry about the technical stuff. Having said this it is probably not a problem removing it.

No disrespect to the guys on here they certainly know their stuff about most things but from what iv seen anything with 30 inch tyres or bigger should be refered to a 4wd forum. Im from perth so i like perth 4x4.net they are pretty knowlageable about all things with a transfer case and two diffs and there are heaps of people on there that own your exact vehicle.

cheers mate.

[alanrlow]

hi mate

if there is no way of tesioning this pully, what i mean as in moving the pully to apply tension to the belt then it is not a tensioner and is just an idler. i dont know a huge deal about the cruisers but have had to stik my head in the front end of our nissan patrol more times than i can remember and it as similar idlers whose only purpose is to direct the belt.

It might also be said that by putting an idler pully in then it will limit the vibration in the belt or more to the point increase the resonance frequencies of that section of the belt such that it is well outside the forcing frequencies expected in the system. sorry about the technical stuff. Having said this it is probably not a problem removing it.

No disrespect to the guys on here they certainly know their stuff about most things but from what iv seen anything with 30 inch tyres or bigger should be refered to a 4wd forum. Im from perth so i like perth 4x4.net they are pretty knowlageable about all things with a transfer case and two diffs and there are heaps of people on there that own your exact vehicle.

cheers mate.

Hi, that's pretty much my thoughts too, to dampen any vibrations. I can't say I've noticed any difference in the 2 weeks it's been off but I don't want to hurt anything if it turns out to be vital somehow. I just hate to think what it would cost genuine from Toyota. http://www.toymods.net//forums/images/icons/icon8.gif

Thanks for your reply,

Alan.