My 2002 7.3 with 202,000 eats two ribs off of the serpetine belt in a week, but that is all the ribs it eats off, what causes this? I am wondering if the idlerpulley/ tesioner is out of wach and is causeing this

 

Try a gator back , autozone has them

 

this is for a dodge but you get the point of how Superior the gator back is


Here's my belt @ 48,000 miles may want to check yours out

Tools Required :
1/2 Inch Drive Ratchet & an 1/2 to 3/8 reducer

Parts Required :
Here's the Gatorback belt $33.50 at AutoZone; this part Number is for Models with A/C
This Belt is said to Remove the chirp at Shutdown

Here's the big difference in the belts

Now to change them out
Here's a top view of the Tensioner

Here's a bottom View of the Tensioner The arrow is pointing to the 3/8 inch Square Hole where you insert the 3/8 adapter
(Something Like the Stock Oil Drain Plugs)

Here's the 3/8 inch adapter in the hole.
Now you see why the adapter is needed , an extension is to long and you wont be able to turn it very well , And the 1/2 inch drive ratchet is a must for leverage.

Shove it towards the drivers side and pop the belt off the bottom pulley

When you have the belt off the bottom pulley slowly let off on the tensioner and the ratchet will rest against the frame rail and stop it from flopping up where you cant get to it .
Remove the belt You'll have to push the tensioner back over a little to get the belt around the ratchet and you'll have to loop the belt around the fan blades to be able to get the belt off the truck.

Once thats done heres the new belt routing diagram
To do this by your self you'll need to put it on like so...

First get the belt around the fan blades and past your ratchet thats holding the tensioner from moving any further
Then route the belt around all pulleys, but the bottom one (6).... You will have a loop of belt waiting to go on pulley # 6
Crank the tensioner with your right hand all the way the furthest you can then with your left hand grab the loop and pull it over Pulley #6
before you release the tensioner look at the pulleys and make sure the belt is centered on all of them then release the tensioner and check from the top.
If all looks good Start the truck up.
Wait a few Seconds then watch the belt go around for a little bit then shut the truck off....
Did you notice ???
NO CHIRP
Mission Accomplished

 

Same procedure for the 7.3 as well...

But as you said, I would check your tensioner. I have only lost one belt in over a million miles of driving the 7.3...

 

Mine is not eating them either. You probably have a weaking tensioner. Great pics BTW.

 

Thanks for the info. I will check the tensioner out this weekend

 

I would almost best you its the tensioner.... Here is the one i just changed about a week ago. I was losing a belt ever 3 months and couldnt figure it out.

 

ya i would deff check tensioner but also take a look at other pulleys to make sure there isn't any ribs arnt messed up.

 

i looked at my pulleys and my power steering pump has about half a inch of play .

 

thats whats doing it then, i would still check your tensioner to be safe an maybe replace it depending on what it kind of shape its in an how many miles. may be a good idea to do while you have the belt off.