The sprocket for the Intermediate shaft

[theman53]

I have seen some here with the lips on the sides turned down and was wondering if it is something I should do while it is apart. I can see where it would be good if the belt was running a bit off and then the pulley wouldn't chew it up and put more pressure on the IM bearings. At the same time I can see where it would run off and could rub other stuff.
Info needed. I have a couple of pulleys so I can do whatever with it. Let me know.

[Rabbit on Roids]

the timing belt covers do a pretty good job of not letting the belt fly off. i had one come damn close. it chewed half of the belt away. i was literally running on a half width timing belt, still have it somwhere i think.

[cyrus #1]

I did mine because I had it off.  Hopefully it never goes off far enough that it would be an issue.

[ilikevwdiesel]

if the IP bracket is bent a bit or loose the belt will track off the IP pulley one way or the other, usually towards the timing cover, causing the belt to chafe on the idler. Did you check for that? The later 1.6 idler pulleys have no sides, I have a few if you are interested.

[theman53]

I have a couple IP sprockets/pulleys whatever I just wanted to know if there was a really good reason for or against machining the lips off the sides. Since mine is out of the car I figured I would ask. I think it would be better for the IM BEARINGS if the lips were gone. That way if there was a problem it wouldn't pull/push the IM shaft and chew up bearings. Also I had an old one pulley that would chew on the engine side of the TB because of the little lip.
Right now on the TD engine going into the jetta there were no issues with TB, I am just thinking on how difficult it would be once in the car to do this.
So I think I am getting rid of the little lip as long as there are no strong aguments against it.

[ilikevwdiesel]

sorry I should have read your post better I thought you were presently having a problem. I've had a few of them that tracked so bad I had to remove the pump and hammer the bracket over to make the belt track properly. What year is yours? I think the 90 and up engines had no sides on the intermediate pulley. grind away!

[theman53]

Mine is an 86 jetta with an 85 TD going to sleep in it as soon as the weather breaks *spring*