2017 Ski Nautique 200 OB 6.0L ZR4

[drrobfast]

So I winterized the new boat over the weekend. No big deal or so I thought. Everything went well until I replaced the impeller. No I can't get the serpentine belt back on. I am not sure I understand the instructions from PCM. It says compress the belt tensioner. It is a solid piece of plastic and doesn't compress. Love the engine, but it is a little harder to service than my old Mastercraft. Someone point me in the right direction?

[Quinner]

If like the older versions you put a wrench or socket on the hex and pull/rotate right as you face it, the tensioner should rotate so the belt can go on. There should be a diagram showing the belt routing adjacent to the tensioner.

[drrobfast]

I have the whole diagram showing the belt routing. There is no tensioner that I can see on the anchor point. It is just a 15mm hex bolt that runs through the pulley. And it pulls right off. No rotation. Attached are front and back pictures of the pulley and bolt and the location it came from on the engine.

[Quinner]

Is that an idler pulley or the tensioner??

[drrobfast]

Upper left pulley facing the engine. PCM manual says that this is the belt tensioner. However I do not see the traditional tensioner that I am familiar with. I attached a picture from the manual.

[drrobfast]

Picture from the manual.

[charlesml3]

So I winterized the new boat over the weekend. No big deal or so I thought. Everything went well until I replaced the impeller. No I can't get the serpentine belt back on. I am not sure I understand the instructions from PCM. It says compress the belt tensioner. It is a solid piece of plastic and doesn't compress. Love the engine, but it is a little harder to service than my old Mastercraft. Someone point me in the right direction?

Well, you shouldn't replace the impeller now. You should do that in the spring. As it is, the impeller will sit in a partially compressed position for months. That will shorten its life.

As far as operating the tensioner, it's pretty easy. Put a socket wrench on the tensioner bolt and turn it clockwise. That will swing the tensioner over and let you reposition the belt. Not that the easiest way to do this is to put the belt on the alternator, raw water pump, crankshaft and belt tensioner. Leave it off the circulation pump. Then swing the tensioner over and slide it onto the circulation pump.

-Charles

[drrobfast]

So the tensioner bolt is the one I loosened when I took off the pulley? Just turn that clockwise and it will swing the tensioner over? Thanks Charles.

I replace the impeller in the fall when I drain the system. I do it every year. I understand your thought process, except for the fact that many years ago I forgot to put the new impeller in at the start of spring. Don't want to repeat that mistake again!

[charlesml3]

Removing the serpentine belt does not require removing any pulleys at all. From the photos, it looks to me like you took the idler pulley off. You didn't need to do that. Put it back on without the belt. Then (using the diagram above), locate the tensioner. The tensioner is spring loaded. When you turn the socket wrench clockwise, you'll feel the spring.pulling back against you.

The solution to your impeller issue is easy. Never leave the boat without one in it. Just leave the old one in until spring. Then replace it all in one go.

-Charles

[drrobfast]

The belt came off when I took out the impeller. That pulley came off the location of the belt tensioner in the diagram. The idler pulley is smooth and doesn't have a lip on it.

Thanks Charles! I appreciate the help! I will keep you posted on how it goes when I get home.

[charlesml3]

The belt came off when I took out the impeller. That pulley came off the location of the belt tensioner in the diagram. The idler pulley is smooth and doesn't have a lip on it.

Thanks Charles! I appreciate the help! I will keep you posted on how it goes when I get home.

I sent you a PM with my cell phone number. Let's make sure you're going in the right direction here...

-Charles