AC tensioner bearings? Any tricks?

I'm replacing my AC compressor soon, and noticed that the tensioner for the AC belt (the belt is now off) sounds like there is sand in the bearings when you spin it. So, I ordered some new ones.

Are there two bearings? Are there any suprises removing the old bearings (there are two stacked on top of each other- I think?) and installing the new ones? Is there a snap ring or anything between the two?

I have a 12 ton press, so that should help.

Thanks-
jwise
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Surprises YES, a snap ring and a washer are between the bearings. My experience says NO NOT press them out and do not lose the center washer between the bearings ($11). I saw one pressed out and the operator didn't know there was a snap ring in between the bearings, it was a real mess. I used a small piece of key stock to punch out the lower bearing a little at a time rotating my striking point often as it lays on it's side throught the inner hole. Then flipped it over and repeated. I hope that makes sense.

 

Another approach might be to disassemble one of the bearings (remove seal, cut ball cage, remove balls and inner race) then press the other bearing out, remove snap ring and press outer race of first bearing.

 

Thanks folks. I'll report back with my findings.

jwise

 

Don't use a press to re-assemble the tensioner either. You can put everything back together just using a vise, just place the tensioner between two peices of wood, and apply pressure using the vise. Do one bearing at a time.

Milton

 

and make sure that washer between the 2 bearings is centered also

 

I replaced the two AC tensioner bearings this past weekend. No problems and took about an hour total.

I removed the entire pulley mount from the engine and worked on it inside- much simpler.


Next, just remove the pulley bolt from the mount- pay attention to any washers before taking the pulley off. I just take a couple of pictures for reference.

Next- now that the pulley is free, it's time to remove the bearings. I put the pulley in a vise, and tried to smack out one of the bearings by catching a small punch on the inner race- this did not work. So, I put the whole thing in the oven for about ten minutes and then clamped it in the vise again. I put an ice cube on the bearing until it melted and tried with the punch again- and it popped out easily by working around the inner race. Physics at work!

There is a small washer between (as mentioned earlier in this post) that is loose. There is also a snap ring. Once one of the bearings is out, the second one is easy to drive out.

I left the snap ring in place, and pressed in the first new bearing (after cleaning up the pulley) with the vise- using an old bearing to press it up against the snap ring. The second bearing (with small washer installed) was pressed in the same way.

Then, just bolt the pulley back on the mount, and install it on the engine with the correct torque specifications.

That's it, and now I have some nice quiet bearings.

 

I'm glad it worked out so easily. This is a great site.