ConcoursMustang Forums

Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models => Processes, Products & Techniques => Topic started by: rockhouse66 on November 17, 2019, 08:28:02 AM

Title: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: rockhouse66 on November 17, 2019, 08:28:02 AM
Has anyone removed the pulley from the C5-AA A/C idler bracket and how did you do it?  I can see where I might be able to just press it off but it looks like pressing it back on would put a load on the bearing, which I do not want to damage.  Probably best to remove the pulley/bearing assembly from the bracket, R&R, then put the whole thing back in?

I don't see any obvious way this thing comes apart and don't want to damage anything so if anyone has experience with this I would appreciate some instructions.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: BKnapp on November 17, 2019, 09:13:01 AM
West Coast Cougars has a video on this....I will try posting the link...

https://secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/store/p/14898-Rebuild-Service-A/C-Pulley-Wide-Bearing-Styles-Only-PRE-SEND-CORE-1967-1968-Mercury-Cougar-/-1967-1968-Ford-Mustang.html?attribs=77

It’s near the bottom.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: rockhouse66 on November 17, 2019, 09:33:13 AM
Excellent!  Thanks!
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: 67gtasanjose on November 17, 2019, 02:10:09 PM
West Coast Cougars has a video on this....I will try posting the link...

https://secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/store/p/14898-Rebuild-Service-A/C-Pulley-Wide-Bearing-Styles-Only-PRE-SEND-CORE-1967-1968-Mercury-Cougar-/-1967-1968-Ford-Mustang.html?attribs=77

It’s near the bottom.

I personally do not agree with every way Don pressed that example together.
NEVER press against the bearing rollers themselves.
I did my idler pulley myself much the way Don showed but also never pressed the pulley back on the way he showed to do it.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: rockhouse66 on November 17, 2019, 02:55:53 PM
I saw that too.  Early in the video he cautions against pressing the bearing by the outer race, then later on he does exactly that.  I suspect that the fit is not so tight that the load will damage the bearing in this case, but it isn't good practice.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: Bob Gaines on November 17, 2019, 04:05:49 PM
I saw that too.  Early in the video he cautions against pressing the bearing by the outer race, then later on he does exactly that.  I suspect that the fit is not so tight that the load will damage the bearing in this case, but it isn't good practice.
He also says "do as I say and not as I do". ;)
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: krelboyne on November 17, 2019, 08:20:12 PM
Have been wanting to make a better video for a while now. I do all of the A/C bearing rebuilds.
Don did that video a long time ago, I cringe when I watch it. He is actually shown installing one of the pulleys on backwards.

The early (mid 1968 and earlier) bearings are the toughest ones to replace. Those would be the wide bearings.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: Bob Gaines on November 17, 2019, 09:12:24 PM
Have been wanting to make a better video for a while now. I do all of the A/C bearing rebuilds.
Don did that video a long time ago, I cringe when I watch it. He is actually shown installing one of the pulleys on backwards.

The early (mid 1968 and earlier) bearings are the toughest ones to replace. Those would be the wide bearings.
I enjoyed the video non the less. I think they are invaluable to enthusiasts. Did you get mixed up on the bearing ?  Aren't the wide bearings the ones pressed on the shaft mid 68 and later ? The bearing with the shaft made on to is a smaller diameter and is also the earlier style.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: krelboyne on November 18, 2019, 01:36:57 AM
No, ones we call the wide bearing surfaces, are the ones with the shafts. With two different lengths of shafts.

I will have to get some pictures of the bearings and my tools of the trade.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: Bob Gaines on November 18, 2019, 01:50:47 AM
No, ones we call the wide bearing surfaces, are the ones with the shafts. With two different lengths of shafts.

I will have to get some pictures of the bearings and my tools of the trade.
Ok ,I understand your "wide" description better now.I will stand by with interest to see your pictures. Thanks.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: krelboyne on November 18, 2019, 02:30:27 PM
Some of my A/C pulley rebuilding tools. Picture shows large and small bearing mid-1968-70's. Black painted idler pulley is 1968-69 with small bearing. Bare steel adjusting pulley is from 1970-78 ish. Slightly larger ID and OD compared to 1968-69 bearings.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: krelboyne on November 18, 2019, 02:33:59 PM
This picture is of the 1967-early68 fixed idler pulley with 289/302. This one uses the wide bearing, but with long shaft.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: krelboyne on November 18, 2019, 02:38:04 PM
1967-early68 adjustable tension pulley with 289/302 engines. Picture shows two styles of pulleys on the the same bracket. This uses a wide bearing with short shaft. We have the shafts machined down for this and other applications. Some of the various tools shown in the pictures are what I use for disassembly and reassembly.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: J_Speegle on November 18, 2019, 05:36:22 PM
Thanks for the pictures and examples Scott

Caught it ;)   You know what they say - Big fingers ..... big problems typing ::)
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: krelboyne on November 18, 2019, 05:46:13 PM
Thanks for the pictures and examples Scoot

Shoot, no problem. LOL
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: preaction on November 18, 2019, 06:35:43 PM
Now we can call you Scooter ;)
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: Bob Gaines on November 19, 2019, 12:23:12 AM
To add to the discussion,the 67 mid 68 and the 68/69 pulleys are all black ,the brackets are bare steel/cast . The center caps on the 67 mid 68 are zinc silver and the 68/69 are P/O.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: 67gtasanjose on November 19, 2019, 05:22:58 AM
Assembly Tip:
Leave the bearing cap OFF of the assembly till after the correct pulley depth has been confirmed. In particular, this applies to at least the late-67 through 68 289/302 idler pulley (the one that mounts below compressor).

On this particular pulley, the one I did had unknowingly been pressed about an 1/8th-inch too shallow onto the bracket and this was not detected till after the assembly was bolted onto the engine, noticed with eyesight, having a slight deflection of the drive belt. A straight edge between the crank pulley and AC clutch pulley confirmed the deflection. I had already installed the center cap. At this point, o PREVENT pressing against the bearing for correcting the problem, I instead had to sacrifice a NOS pulley to rob the center cap from it. I then needed to drill a hole in my original center cap to remove it again (threading a screw into the hole)...this damage could have been avoided had I simply WAITED on tapping the center cap into place.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: Bob Gaines on November 19, 2019, 11:55:52 AM
Assembly Tip:
Leave the bearing cap OFF of the assembly till after the correct pulley depth has been confirmed. In particular, this applies to at least the late-67 through 68 289/302 idler pulley (the one that mounts below compressor).

On this particular pulley, the one I did had unknowingly been pressed about an 1/8th-inch too shallow onto the bracket and this was not detected till after the assembly was bolted onto the engine, noticed with eyesight, having a slight deflection of the drive belt. A straight edge between the crank pulley and AC clutch pulley confirmed the deflection. I had already installed the center cap. At this point, o PREVENT pressing against the bearing for correcting the problem, I instead had to sacrifice a NOS pulley to rob the center cap from it. I then needed to drill a hole in my original center cap to remove it again (threading a screw into the hole)...this damage could have been avoided had I simply WAITED on tapping the center cap into place.
FYI there is no late 67 through 68 289/302 idler pulley. There is a fixed idler style (one that mounts below compressor)for all of 67 to mid 68 (cast bracket) and a different version for 68/69 (steel bracket). Also each different style of fixed idler has a specific BB and SB version.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: krelboyne on November 19, 2019, 12:52:05 PM
Caps are the last thing to go on.
The 1967 caps are easy fits.
I hand fit all of the late 1968 and up caps. Straighten, true up roundness, and file notches to the indexed crimps. Once I am satisfied with the fit, they are JB welded to the pulley as the last step.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: 67gtasanjose on November 19, 2019, 04:06:59 PM
FYI there is no late 67 through 68 289/302 idler pulley. There is a fixed idler style (one that mounts below compressor)for all of 67 to mid 68 (cast bracket) and a different version for 68/69 (steel bracket). Also each different style of fixed idler has a specific BB and SB version.
Very early 67's DID NOT use the fixed bracket idler. I have done my research. As to when in 68 production they changed over, that I do not know.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: Bob Gaines on November 19, 2019, 11:39:20 PM
Very early 67's DID NOT use the fixed bracket idler. I have done my research. As to when in 68 production they changed over, that I do not know.
If you mean the cast style fixed idler was used in 67 production then I agree. It read like you were referring to the steel bracket being the only one used in 67 all of 68. The cast style fixed idler was used starting in approximate March 1967 on both SB and BB Mustangs. That cast style matches the adjustable idler in material makeup. The change over to the steel style brackets and different pulleys happened in approximately March 1968.   
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: 69supercj on January 03, 2020, 09:48:59 AM
To add to the discussion,the 67 mid 68 and the 68/69 pulleys are all black ,the brackets are bare steel/cast . The center caps on the 67 mid 68 are zinc silver and the 68/69 are P/O.

Hey Bob, just curious is the black sprayed or are they dipped? Also, forgive my ignorance but I'm assuming by P/O you mean phosphate and oil? Thanks for the info!!
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: Bob Gaines on January 03, 2020, 12:04:45 PM
Hey Bob, just curious is the black sprayed or are they dipped? Also, forgive my ignorance but I'm assuming by P/O you mean phosphate and oil? Thanks for the info!!
I have not seen drips or runs in the paint on original pulleys. They are a little shinier then semigloss which looks similar to the sheen on dipped parts.  I spray them and duplicate the look. P/O is short for phosphate and oil.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: J_Speegle on January 03, 2020, 04:16:06 PM
Hey Bob, just curious is the black sprayed or are they dipped? Also, forgive my ignorance but I'm assuming by P/O you mean phosphate and oil? Thanks for the info!!

+1 on likely sprayed but on the glossier side

Example from a 69 boxed 69 application. Could have used a good wiping down before the picture but you can see a slight reflection in some of the better parts of the surface

(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/11/6-041218174158.jpeg)
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: jwc66k on January 03, 2020, 04:32:41 PM
+1 on likely sprayed but on the glossier side

Example from a 69 boxed 69 application. Could have used a good wiping down before the picture but you can see a slight reflection in some of the better parts of the surface

(http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/11/6-041218174158.jpeg)
Because this idler has a moving part, it would not be dipped.
Jim
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: Bob Gaines on January 03, 2020, 10:08:02 PM
The pulley was painted(however) first. Then the components where pressed together into a assembly.  For example I have a 65 alt fan that was dipped by the drip evidence. I have not found any dipped evidence on the idler pulley's so don't know on that. The 65/66 upper control arm was one part that comes to mind that had a moving part and was also dipped. Apparently the the inner shaft and how it rotates when installed in the upper control arm was not effected by the dipping in paint.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: rockhouse66 on January 04, 2020, 09:29:36 AM
I don't know how they got such complete paint coverage on pulleys unless they were dipped.  A/C idler pulleys included.  When I restore one they always appear to have been painted all the way into the sheave which is pretty hard to do unless dipped.
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: Bob Gaines on January 04, 2020, 01:33:03 PM
I don't know how they got such complete paint coverage on pulleys unless they were dipped.  A/C idler pulleys included.  When I restore one they always appear to have been painted all the way into the sheave which is pretty hard to do unless dipped.
Like I said I am not sure how the idler pulleys were painted.  I do know that a authentic finish can be achieved by spray. The end finish is the goal. how you get there is the challenge. They could have been dipped . The production problem I see in a dipped scenario on a idler pulley is getting paint on the inside surfaces where the bearing is pressed in. The paint would create clearance problems I would think when trying to press a bearing in with paint in the way. Maybe difficult to get good coverage on a pulley in one spray paint pass .This is just me not doing anything special other then multiple coats for coverage but it never seemed difficult when I had to spray paint one to get complete paint coverage. I have had many original water pump pulleys that had foggy paint line on the back side which would indicate spray others with faint drips so at least not all were dipped. 
Title: Re: A/C idler bracket disassembly
Post by: J_Speegle on January 04, 2020, 04:47:49 PM
Did start a new thread focused on the original finishes of the engine pulleys since some of the discussion is moving away from just the idler pulley and just because it might be helpful to others. :)

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=21652.new#new (http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=21652.new#new)