Please help. Melted drive belt onto pulleys

[Shucks18]

Hey guys I’m kinda screwed right now. Started my tundra up after it sat for a month (zero prior issues whatsoever) and the alternator was seized. As I sat inside letting the truck warm up the drive belt broke and melted into every single pulley groove possible. Crank pulley, ac pulley, powersteering, idler….. I csnt figure out how I’m going to get this solid melted rubber out of the grooves and return them to perfect clean shape. Any suggestions? 01 tundra v8

 

[ripcord]

That stinks! It might be a lot easier just to replace some or all of those pulleys. You can probably clean them on a wire wheel.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Yuck!

Depending on how bad it is, you might need to replace the pulleys. Use a screwdriver or something to scrape the rubber out, or, if you're feeling lucky, just replace the alternator and put a new belt on and hope it doesn't squeak

 

[cptbarkey]

bristle disc on a drill, perhaps a right angle drill may help. No need to go fast. You will probably need a combination of access-able drills. Removing the ones you can will make it easier.

 

[mikeduf]

If that happened to me I would pull the alternator for sure put it aside and looking to getting a new one. As far as the pulleys go, you're screwed with the crank pulley. But the other police you should be able to get off quickly and soak them in MEK that's methyl ethyl ketone solvent that will melt all of that belt crap out of those grooves. Then of course rubber gloves and wire brush to facilitate. Very toxic so being a well ventilated non-smoking area. Just my two cents that's what I would do.

For the crank pulley I would take a small brush and dip it in the MEK and dab that on the crank pulley and let that soak for a while put a rag underneath it. Hope that helps.

 

[Chris142]

I have cleaned many. Just need a pick and turn the pulley to scrape the rubber out.

 

[B1974]

Use a small sharp knife to cut into the melted rubber on the pulleys and hopefully it'll just peel off the pulley. Then I'd hit them with brake cleaner to try and get some more off. If you use a wire wheel I'd start with a brass wired one.

I'd skip the MEK, we used it at work back in the 90's and it not even allowed in our workplace now. It not much fun to work with and very bad for you.

 

[Kira]

Just need a pick

Steel wool (coarse/cheap stainless steel pot scrubbers) came to mind.

 

[GSCJR]

I'm having a difficult time envisioning this. I've run into this problem before and the only thing necessary was a new alternator and belt. The belt residue was simply dust, and not tar.

 

[Chris142]

I'm having a difficult time envisioning this. I've run into this problem before and the only thing necessary was a new alternator and belt. The belt residue was simply dust, and not tar.

I have seen the grooves full of rubber. It comes right out with a 90* pick and some elbow grease.

 

[Shucks18]

I'm having a difficult time envisioning this. I've run into this problem before and the only thing necessary was a new alternator and belt. The belt residue was simply dust, and not tar.

This is tar

 

[Timmastertech]

I use a wire wheel on a drill to knock out what I can then use a pick or pocket screwdriver to dig out the rest

 

[Shucks18]

I use a wire wheel on a drill to knock out what I can then use a pick or pocket screwdriver to dig out the rest

Okay thanks. Really stressing about it

 

[Shucks18]

If that happened to me I would pull the alternator for sure put it aside and looking to getting a new one. As far as the pulleys go, you're screwed with the crank pulley. But the other police you should be able to get off quickly and soak them in MEK that's methyl ethyl ketone solvent that will melt all of that belt crap out of those grooves. Then of course rubber gloves and wire brush to facilitate. Very toxic so being a well ventilated non-smoking area. Just my two cents that's what I would do.

For the crank pulley I would take a small brush and dip it in the MEK and dab that on the crank pulley and let that soak for a while put a rag underneath it. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the response, but when you say I’m screwed with the crank pulley, wdym? Because later on you describe how you would clean the crank pulley. Thanks really stressing about this. I’m screwed until I fix it

 

[mikeduf]

Thanks for the response, but when you say I’m screwed with the crank pulley, wdym? Because later on you describe how you would clean the crank pulley. Thanks really stressing about this. I’m screwed until I fix it

I should have elaborated a little clearer, what I meant is that crankshaft pulley is hard to take off. So you might just take some of that chemical or what somebody else suggested some brake cleaner and put a rag underneath it and then use a pic to scrape it out and wire brush it off. I think you can get all three of those cleaned off probably in an hour if you really dig into it.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

This is tar

If it's that bad, we need to see pics

 

[Number_35]

Use a small sharp knife to cut into the melted rubber on the pulleys and hopefully it'll just peel off the pulley. Then I'd hit them with brake cleaner to try and get some more off. If you use a wire wheel I'd start with a brass wired one.

I'd skip the MEK, we used it at work back in the 90's and it not even allowed in our workplace now. It not much fun to work with and very bad for you.

It looks like it's been discontinued at CT. Per the first reviewer, it's been banned by the feds here.

 

[mikeduf]

Yeah it's pretty strong stuff. I wasn't sure if it was still allowed, not knowing your location. It's been banned here in SoCal, along with a lot of other chemicals. Just going to take some ingenuity, Good luck

 

[RedSpider]

I've pulled crank pulleys off 2uzfe's and never found it difficult. Although its pretty accessible once the pan is removed so I dont think you'd need to anyway.

 

[KrisZ]

It probably looks worse than it really is. Stop posting and “stressing” about it and get to work. And then you’ll see how easy or difficult it is to remove. It’s not gonna come off with BITOG posts and best wishes.