Heavy mud and belt pulley noise

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dude1116

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Anyone ever go through some heavy mud with their Libby that resulted in the belt pulley making a rubbing/grinding noise? I assume dirt is trapped somewhere but I'm not sure how to go about finding it. It's pretty damn loud and you can hear it loudest when your ear is right next to the left of the radiator (when facing the radiator). I'm assuming it's a belt pulley but I could be totally wrong. Any suggestions?

Thanks everyone! :D
 

J-Thompson

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Anyone ever go through some heavy mud with their Libby that resulted in the belt pulley making a rubbing/grinding noise? I assume dirt is trapped somewhere but I'm not sure how to go about finding it. It's pretty damn loud and you can hear it loudest when your ear is right next to the left of the radiator (when facing the radiator). I'm assuming it's a belt pulley but I could be totally wrong. Any suggestions?

Thanks everyone! :D

Pressure washer
Don't go in mud?
 

dude1116

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I avoid mud at all costs,it just ruins seals,eats CV boots and bushings,and accelerates corrosion.Your young and will wisen up when your repair bills start getting really big from playing in mud.

I maned up and play on rocks now.

Hasn't cost me as much as snow. Snow drifting pretty much murdered my transmission... -____-

Yes I have wisened up since then. No I havn't had to pay any bill...yet. (I say this as my transmission has been whining for months now...)
 

tommudd

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X's two on the above plus the longer you leave mud hanging on and packed into places the worse it is.
People make fun of me but as soon as I can, mine gets a good bath top to bottom real well to get everything out I can
 

tommudd

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Cooking spray works great as well and stays on longer than most anything else
So go rob the kitchen while the wife isn't looking!
 

speedracerbubba

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Cooking spray works great as well and stays on longer than most anything else
So go rob the kitchen while the wife isn't looking!

I'm not sure but I would think canola oil (cooking spray) is mo betta for plastics and the natures than wd 40.

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speedracerbubba

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I've used WD40 for the last 2 years since being lifted.
No problems with it ruining plastics.
Mud rinses off easier.

Excellent. I don't know the merit behind it but I've heard wd40 is bad for plastic so it's good to hear you haven't seen any ill affects from it.

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OneOneNiner

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I believe Mr Snorkel Envy is sponsored by Pam cooking spray and has cases of the stuff laying around.
If you say his Jeep is #1, he might just throw you out a case or two. :happy175:
 

dude1116

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Tip:
Spray WD40 on the underside of your heep, engine, and plastic fender liners.
Then when you get home washing all that muck off is allot easier.

Really? Thanks for the tip!

I always take it right to the self-serve wash in my town as soon as I'm done in the mud. I really should get a good engine wash down. Still don't know what can be causing this damn noise >.<
 

speedracerbubba

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Really? Thanks for the tip!

I always take it right to the self-serve wash in my town as soon as I'm done in the mud. I really should get a good engine wash down. Still don't know what can be causing this damn noise >.<

Take the belt off the idler pulley and spin them by hand. I had one of the bearings on the idler going out that was making a grinding noise and I could feel it was not smooth when turning by hand. New pulley with bearing from rock auto had it fixed mighty quickly and easily.

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LibertyFever

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Yeah I agree that driving through mud does look cool in the pic but causes a lot of problems later, especially on manual transmissions.

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After this little stunt I realized my mechanical clutch rad fan was unbalanced because of all the mud on it and caused some real bad vibrations. Also the rad itself was so plugged up with mud that the engine overheated. The mud fell off of my rad fan by itself and after the rad itself was washed out with a garden hose all was well.

The Liberty's idler pulley and electric rad fan are problematic areas. I've had both fail on me. Try removing the belt and checking the idler pulley. You can jumper 12v directly to the electric rad fan to check it's operation but beware. It will draw a lot of current and the jumper wires may heat up quickly. It can be dismantled and cleaned if required.

I'm curious if you have just the electric rad fan or both the electric & mechanical clutch rad fan.
 
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