On the timing belt idler pulley, should it spin real freely? I am cleaning mine up during my eng rebuild. Mine spins, but not free like a skate board wheel. I only ask because I have never replaced one before. I feel like it should spin with no effort.

 

I just removed all my timing pulleys and all of them spun freely, but not like a skateboard wheel. I have a feeling that if the bearing were as loose as they are on a skateboard, they would fly apart at higher rpms.

 

My old one didn't spin freely... credit to the old bearing seals and overall robust construction.

My new one didn't spin freely.. I expect the new seals to create some friction.

 

Does it feel rough?
Was there what looked like splattered grease on the orange seal part on the pulley?

 

Nope, it does not feel rough when I spin it, nor do the other pulley's. I think that the timing belt and hardware had been done recently. The timing belt looks like it is brand new. This is out of an eng that was filthy dirty and grimed up on the outside.

 

Okay... sounds like it's probably okay... check for spun- out grease on the seals like tech said... the biggest thing is this: does it turn smoothly, and does it make noise? if it makes noise, change it. If it doesn't turn smoothly, change it. If you have any doubts whatsoever... CHANGE IT! I guarantee that it's much, much cheaper to do that than it is to fix it if the bearing seizes up while you're driving!

 

Thanks everyone, I am just gonna change them. Hey, it is only money right!