Litens OAD™ Decoupler Pulleys

Solid Pulley vs. OAP (One-Way Clutch) vs. OAD™

This comparison of three leading alternator pulley designs demonstrates the danger of using the wrong type of pulley on a vehicle requiring an OAD™ pulley.

Note the severe level of belt drive vibration (see whiplashing belt tensioner) when a "solid pulley" is installed on the belt drive system.

Similarly, the use of an "OAP" ("one-way clutch") on this application also results in significant belt drive vibration, causing NVH issues and wear of key components.

This footage shows a Litens OAD™ pulley on the same application. Note the smooth, efficient, low-stress operation of the belt drive system.

Alternator Pulley Comparison

This video demonstrates the excessive levels of NVH, belt system stress and other severe issues resulting from the use of a solid alternator pulley on this Ford engine.

This clip shows the use of a variety of "one-way clutch" alternator pulleys on the same engine.

Now we see the smooth, efficient operation of the same engine belt drive system using an OAD™ pulley. The Liten OAD™ pulley was previously referred to as an isolating decoupler pulley or IDP and marketed under the RotorRX brand.

Solid Alternator Pulley Demonstration

This engine requires an overrunning alternator decoupler (OAD™) pulley. To show the importance of using the right pulley design, we installed an alternator equipped with a solid pulley.

Notice the severe vibration in the belt drive system. This condition will cause a loss of engine efficiency/fuel economy, shortened belt and bearing life, extreme NVH, and other problems.

One-Way Clutch (OAP) Demo

This is a closeup view of the belt tensioner on a vehicle equipped with the wrong alternator pulley design - a "one-way clutch" (OAP). This engine requires an overrunning alternator decoupler (OAD™) pulley.

Note the significant vibration and stress on the belt tensioner. This condition will likely lead to unsatisfactory levels of NVH and reduced component life.

Litens OAD™ Closeup

This tight view of an alternator equipped with a Litens overrunning alternator decoupler (OAD™) pulley shows how the patented spring-loaded mechanism absorbs belt drive vibration.

This innovative design - required on millions of vehicles - boosts engine efficiency and helps eliminate NVH issues.

It is never appropriate to use another alternator pulley design in place of an OAD™ on vehicles originally equipped with this technology.

This video was created using a strobe light to see how the OAD™ pulley compensates and absorbs the engine pulses being transmitted by the belt to the alternator rotor.

Benefits of OAD™ Pulleys

Several vehicle manufacturers now specify isolating decoupler pulleys (IDP) or Litens' overrunning alternator decoupler (OAD™) pulleys for their latest engines due to the extremely smooth, efficient belt drive performance made possible by this technology.

It is never appropriate to use another alternator pulley design in place of an OAD™/IDP on vehicles originally equipped with this technology.

Are you using the correct pulley?