Best way to reinstall Stretch Fit A/C Belt?

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2006 Mazda 6 - auto
Hi,

Been reading about how to replace the a/c belt. Since it is a "stretch fit", it appears that you need to use a special tool. I'm planning to use a Gate's belt. I read that the Gate's tool for installing the belt doesn't work very well. What have people used? What would you recommend?

thanks
 
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There's a little jig key thing that is a Mazda Service Tool. It should be very cheap. You can find the Service Tool # in the shop manual.
 
Well, I did some more research. I looked in the Mazda manual - it shows the jig you use to get the belt on. It says it should come with the belt.

In other places on the web, it says that Mazda no longer includes the jig with the belt.

Here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0egSG-o6DDA), shows how the Gates tool works. In the comments to the video there are a lot of tools listed and the Mazda part number given. More searching shows the jig itself (http://www.asttool.com/detail_page.php?from_search=y&tool_number=FM%201440&total=8&offset=0&stype=bynat&nationality=asian&category=Cooling%20System%20and%20A/C), which is sold here (https://www.ebay.com (commissions earned)) for about $29 shipped.

A belt + jig is sold here NEW Mazda 3 5 04-10 Multi Rib Belt Kit Mitsuboshi SF5PK674T https://www.ebay.com (commissions earned) for $39 shipped.

Or I can buy the belt (https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned) and Gates tool (https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned) off Amazon for ~$30. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Anyone have experience with the Ebay kit that includes the jig or the Gates tool on our cars? It appears that some are able to use the Gates tool on Mazdas by wedging the tool between the belt and the pulley (the bolt will not fit). Others have loosened the a/c compressor.
 
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The gates tool was a little small for our application. I discovered this after i bought it while trying to install the belt. I ended up using it anyway. I think I made a spacer so it would line up with the holes in the pulley.
 
Finally did this on our 2006 Mazda with ~110,000 miles. Old belts looked really good, no cracking, etc. I followed this video to get the stretch belt on (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zRtMYHRaiM&t=217s). He used a zip tie to get the stretch belt on. It worked really well, just need to go slow with a long lever on the socket when putting the stretch belt on and making sure the belt doesn't get stuck. I bought the Gate's tool, but didn't use it since it doesn't really fit well on the pulley. For my first time, it was easier than expected, but having another pair of hands helped. It took about 1.5 hrs including setup & cleanup, and a small problem with getting the socket stuck on the tensioner :).
 
Good method , but on mazda5 CW 2.0L does not work...pulley don't have holes for tie zip.tricks is here , take out 4 spark plug ( cover holes with cloth ) take out 4 long skrews that hold A/C compressor and turn engine pulley with 17mm clutch..clockwise and sometimes counterclockwise...At same time force the A/C belt outside...Same for put a new one.
As kw_da sad...at 100000 km old belts was good.
 
Finally did this on our 2006 Mazda with ~110,000 miles. Old belts looked really good, no cracking, etc. I followed this video to get the stretch belt on (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zRtMYHRaiM&t=217s). He used a zip tie to get the stretch belt on. It worked really well, just need to go slow with a long lever on the socket when putting the stretch belt on and making sure the belt doesn't get stuck. I bought the Gate's tool, but didn't use it since it doesn't really fit well on the pulley. For my first time, it was easier than expected, but having another pair of hands helped. It took about 1.5 hrs including setup & cleanup, and a small problem with getting the socket stuck on the tensioner :).

The Gates tool didn't fit over the crank pulley on my daughter's 07 2.0 but the the zip ties worked like a charm. Put 3 in a spindle, rotated to where could I put 3 in the next spindle and rotated to get to the last spindle but the belt popped in. 30 minutes maybe....
 
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