loosen bolts on idle wheel

[shropshire lad]

I am trying to loosen the idle wheel mount bolts on the near side of a serpentine v8.Unfortunately they are so close to the pulley wheel I can only get an open spanner in the gap and the inevitable rounding is happening . Anyone have any ideas how best to loosen or increase the gap so that I can get at least a ring spanner in there . I suppose heat over time has "welded" the bolt to the casing , and being soft alloy doesn't help.

[victormeldrew]

Not trying to fit a heat shield by any chance?

You could try the feeler gauge betwixt spanner and bolt head trick. Failing that your only option would seem to be removal of the idler pulley - three small bolts and its off.

[shropshire lad]

the feeler guage trick sounds good , will try that first.If I have to remove the pulley , any tips , for instance do I release the tension on the pulley first , how easy to get it back on ? you guessed right- a heat shield.

[victormeldrew]

You'll want to take the tension as you loosen the last of the three bolts. I usually use a tie down strap to help with this, one of those ratchet jobbies. The bolts will probably be loctited; they certainly want to be when you put them back anyway!

[shropshire lad]

many thanks for the advice - back to the garage now.