Bad TRD supercharger idler pulley?

Here's the story:

2013 Tacoma 4Dr Short bed with 35,000miles. TRD supercharger correctly installed by local dealer. Wanted more power!

Ordered 2.85in pulley and fuel pump from URD.

Got cold feet about the fuel tank drop and the pulley swap, so I went to a local performance shop who actually developed their own supercharger kit for the Jeep JK. So I thought, "Wow, this should be easy for these guys". Long story short they were completely unfamiliar with press on pulleys and ruined the first URD pulley after putting it on a hot engine.

Second pulley apparently did not go much better and they used a torch to heat it up during the install and really didn't get it all the way on.

Immediately after getting my truck back I noticed a few scoring marks on the smooth idler pulley.

Pulley is now shiny and minimally grooved.

I think they damaged the idler pulley. Anyone agree?

If the supercharger shaft pulley in not all the way on would it have caused this condition?

Finally, where do i get a replacement?

Thanks!

 

Contact TRD directly or go to your local Toyota dealer and see if they can get it for you.

If that idler looks that way after the pulley was installed, then yes the work those monkeys did is causing damage to it.

The machined face of the pulley should be flush with the end of the shaft, and yours is far from it. It also looks pretty beat up from the install. Have you visually checked to see if it is running concentric? I would be worried about the pulley deciding to part ways with the SC, or at the very least I would stock up on spare belts.

Have you talked to the shop about this? They obviously did not read the instructions, or read them and decided to use their own installation method that is not compatible with the TRD SC. I would see about getting them to pay for a replacement idler and pulley and find someone who can actually install it for you. Sorry to see this and good luck.

 

I appreciate the reply. By concentric you mean runs without obvious wobble and is in line with the other pulley? If so, then yes it appears concentric just out too far. It took these guys 3 weeks to just do this, so I don't trust my truck with them anymore.

I will likely get a replacement pulley and see how that responds to the belt. If it shines up then maybe realign the smooth pulley with the SC pulley? Or just find someone who can do the pulley replacement properly.

Thanks

 

The idler is designed to tolerate some misalignment, but the belt will still rub its sides on the pulley and potentially cause early belt failure. I had to replace my belt because one of the ribs parted from the belt and caused it to roll off the pulley, and this is on a correctly installed pulley. You may want to contact Gadget and ask what problems you may expect from your pulley and go from there.

 

I would not worry too much about the iddler pulley.

Focus on the SC charger pulley. End face of shaft and pulley should be flush or youre gonna have accelerated wear of the belt.

 

How about this:





So it turns out that the 9/16th bolts holding the pulleys are quite long. I simply added some thick washers and extended the pulleys out to be in line with the Supercharger pulley. Looks lined up. Did a short run with supercharger engaged, checked pulley temp and everything seemed OK. Still considering replacing that smooth pulley though. Not sure.

If everything is lined up, anyone see any problems ignoring the SC pulley not being fully pressed on for a few months?

I am pretty disgusted with the shop i used and I would like to cool off for a few months.

 

BTW does it cause serious damage when someone with a supercharger breaks a serpentine belt? Can you just carry one with you in case it breaks, throw on the replacement and crank it up no harm, no foul??

 

When mine came off nothing happened, other than no more SC power. Pulled out the section of rib that wrapped behind the pulley on the crank, installed a new belt and back in business.

You can carry tools and a spare and be up and running in 30 minutes if you lose one on the road. The biggest pain is removing and reinstalling the fan.