releasing tension on belt and swapping A/C compressor

[vlmuke]

Hi I am fairly new to this forum been on the probe forum but my new girlfriend has a 95 Windstar and the A/c compressor is shot, I got a rebuilt one from the boneyard for the used price (yeah!) but any way how I do I release the tension on the belt to remove it I noticed the tensioner is in the back what do you use to release it do I need to get one of those belt tools and how do you pull it out? do you need to remove the lower rad hose or can u get it out same other way?
Thanks
Rich

[mark v]

I use a 2 or 3 foot pry bar that looks like a giant screwdriver to hit the pulley/tensioner to remove the belt.

[BryanF]

you can totally just grab the tensioner pulley by hand and yank it towards you. if you pull hard enough you can slip the belt off the idler pulley and you're good.

[mark v]

Yeah that is a very safe suggestion to tell somebody to do.

Originally Posted by BryanF

you can totally just grab the tensioner pulley by hand and yank it towards you. if you pull hard enough you can slip the belt off the idler pulley and you're good.

[BryanF]

worked fine for me plenty of times

[vlmuke]

Great I thought about that but was afraid of not being able to get it back on

Any suggestons about removing the A/C Compressor
Thanks
Rich

[mark v]

Cinderblocks work great as jackstands too, but I would never tell anybody to use such an unsafe method to hold up a vehicle.

Originally Posted by BryanF

worked fine for me plenty of times

[mark v]

You can leave the prybar on the pulley the entire time while doing the work you are doing.

I just replaced my PS Pump and left the prybar on the pulley for the entire job.

Originally Posted by vlmuke

Great I thought about that but was afraid of not being able to get it back on

Any suggestons about removing the A/C Compressor
Thanks
Rich