Hi Guys
This is my first Thread to TT. I'm in Ireland and so I need some help from you guys State Side. I purchased my first boat (a 1999 Maristar 200VRS with LT-1 Corvette 350hp engine in it last July) Love the boat as do all the family. Since getting the boat I have followed alot of your Threads and needless to say its a great source of information.
Was out in the boat 2 days ago when I noticed fluff and bits of rubber in the engine compartment. I figured out it was the Engine Belt for the water pump and alternator. The Belt is totally gone but the guy who sold me the boat happened to have a spare one for that boat when he sold it to me. It is the correct belt for the LT-1 engine.
Anyway I got the belt onto the crankshaft drive pulley and the alternator pulley but I was having difficulty getting the belt over the belt tensioner. I downloaded the 1999 Maristar manual from the MC website but it only gives information about the Vortec MX Plus engine (which has the adjustable alternator mounting - the LT-1 does not have the adjustable alternator mounting). The manual goes on to say that on engines with serpentine belt systems, no change in necessary - belt tension is maintained by the automatic belt tensioner. The relvent page from the Manual (1999 Mastercraft Owners Manual Page 49 in the PDF document in the My Mastercraft section of hte MC site) I confirm that end of my engine looks like the diagram. I could not upload the relevant page for you - sorry!
I did loosen the nuts around the belt tensioner wheel and it would only move up the way (this did not help as I need the wheel to move down the way to get the belt over it) I then open up the nut in the center of the belt tensioner wheel and lifted off the wheel. underneath the wheel I found a nut in the center which can be loosened with an allen key (don't know if you call them the same thing its a screw with needs a hexagonal key inserted into it to unscrew it). I unscrewed it and this made the entire unit come slightly out of it's housing but it also dropped down the belt tensioner unit enough for me to pull the belt over the unit with the wheel back on it. It would not let me tighten the hexagonal screw inside the tensioner unit back to it's original position (when I did it just moved the unit back up and made it too tight to get the wheel back on with the belt over it.) I thought maybe the unit (to include the hexagonal screw) would automatically tighten up the unit and tighten it back into the housing and also push the belt tensioner wheel up higher to tighten up the belt itself. I fired up the engine and let it run for 10 minutes but it did not tighten up the unit behind the wheel or the belt itself. I know there must be some sort of a trick to this problem and I hope you can help.
The belt should be tight enough so it will deflect 1/4'-1/2' when pressed with the thumb. Mine deflects about 4'-6' When I start the engine the belt is working and the alternator is turning over but I understand if it is too loose the alternator will not get a proper charge and it will lead to the belt wearing out too quickly. Also the Belt tensioner wheel does not spin around as the belt runs over it (I'm not sure if it is meant to spin or not and maybe you guys will know the answer)
So couple of question for you
1. Does the Belt Tensioner wheel usually spin around when the engine is running with engine belt running over it?
2. Is there some trick to getting the belt onto the LT-1 (as it does not have the adjustable alternator)?
3. Should I have to open up the belt tensioner and going adjusting the hexagonal screw inside it?
4. It I do need to adjust that Hex screw how do I get it to tighten up and let me still get the wheel back on it and the belt over it?
Sorry this is so long but I thought I better give you as much information to help rule things out.
Help please!
This is my first Thread to TT. I'm in Ireland and so I need some help from you guys State Side. I purchased my first boat (a 1999 Maristar 200VRS with LT-1 Corvette 350hp engine in it last July) Love the boat as do all the family. Since getting the boat I have followed alot of your Threads and needless to say its a great source of information.
Was out in the boat 2 days ago when I noticed fluff and bits of rubber in the engine compartment. I figured out it was the Engine Belt for the water pump and alternator. The Belt is totally gone but the guy who sold me the boat happened to have a spare one for that boat when he sold it to me. It is the correct belt for the LT-1 engine.
Anyway I got the belt onto the crankshaft drive pulley and the alternator pulley but I was having difficulty getting the belt over the belt tensioner. I downloaded the 1999 Maristar manual from the MC website but it only gives information about the Vortec MX Plus engine (which has the adjustable alternator mounting - the LT-1 does not have the adjustable alternator mounting). The manual goes on to say that on engines with serpentine belt systems, no change in necessary - belt tension is maintained by the automatic belt tensioner. The relvent page from the Manual (1999 Mastercraft Owners Manual Page 49 in the PDF document in the My Mastercraft section of hte MC site) I confirm that end of my engine looks like the diagram. I could not upload the relevant page for you - sorry!
I did loosen the nuts around the belt tensioner wheel and it would only move up the way (this did not help as I need the wheel to move down the way to get the belt over it) I then open up the nut in the center of the belt tensioner wheel and lifted off the wheel. underneath the wheel I found a nut in the center which can be loosened with an allen key (don't know if you call them the same thing its a screw with needs a hexagonal key inserted into it to unscrew it). I unscrewed it and this made the entire unit come slightly out of it's housing but it also dropped down the belt tensioner unit enough for me to pull the belt over the unit with the wheel back on it. It would not let me tighten the hexagonal screw inside the tensioner unit back to it's original position (when I did it just moved the unit back up and made it too tight to get the wheel back on with the belt over it.) I thought maybe the unit (to include the hexagonal screw) would automatically tighten up the unit and tighten it back into the housing and also push the belt tensioner wheel up higher to tighten up the belt itself. I fired up the engine and let it run for 10 minutes but it did not tighten up the unit behind the wheel or the belt itself. I know there must be some sort of a trick to this problem and I hope you can help.
The belt should be tight enough so it will deflect 1/4'-1/2' when pressed with the thumb. Mine deflects about 4'-6' When I start the engine the belt is working and the alternator is turning over but I understand if it is too loose the alternator will not get a proper charge and it will lead to the belt wearing out too quickly. Also the Belt tensioner wheel does not spin around as the belt runs over it (I'm not sure if it is meant to spin or not and maybe you guys will know the answer)
So couple of question for you
1. Does the Belt Tensioner wheel usually spin around when the engine is running with engine belt running over it?
2. Is there some trick to getting the belt onto the LT-1 (as it does not have the adjustable alternator)?
3. Should I have to open up the belt tensioner and going adjusting the hexagonal screw inside it?
4. It I do need to adjust that Hex screw how do I get it to tighten up and let me still get the wheel back on it and the belt over it?
Sorry this is so long but I thought I better give you as much information to help rule things out.
Help please!
Mastercraft Replacement Engine
1995 mastercraft maristar 200 MasterCraft Boat Owner's Manuals 1995 Mastercraft 225 Vrs Lt-1 Corvette Engine Ski 1995 Mastercraft Maristar 225 VRS This Boat: 1995 Wetjet by Mastercraft Duo 300ZX - 1995 Wetjet by Mastercraft Duo We have included some engine information since a Choose your make and year to decide on the right personal watercraft. 1998 mastercraft 19 lt this package includes a 30th anniversary edition 1998 mastercraft 190 lt1 with the corvette lt1 engine and a mastercraft trailer. The options include: - bimini top - am/fm stereo - boat cover - rearview mirror - 1998 mastercraft 190 lt1.