Need "AC Troubleshooting for Dummies" Tips (87 5kcstq)

[Motor Sport Visions Photography]

The subject line kinda tells all. The car is my 1987 5000cstq. Here's
the saga...

A few weeks back we were on the way to LA in 95 degree heat and I heard
a noise. As I pulled off the road the engine died and was reluctant to
start again. Popped the hood and saw that the AC compressor belt had
flipped on the compressor pulley and was smoking. Set the climate
control to "econ" mode and started the car...all was well. We went on
with our trip sans AC (the belt ultimately broke a few miles later).
Prior to this the AC in this car always worked well...right up to the
point of failure.

Since it isn't swealtering here in coastal Santa Cruz I have been a bit
lax on finding time to pop a new belt on and see what happens. Knowing I
need to drive to Sears Point (two round trips) this weekend to shoot the
Winston Cup race I became motivated last night to put a new belt on. The
compressor is not engaging with the new belt installed. The climate
control head says that the compressor is on (ch 7). The pulley turns
freely as does the front part of the compressor clutch (some resistance
there but nothing I wouldn't expect from a compressor. At this point the
troubleshooting steps are kinda fuzzy for me so I seek the help of the
AC wizards here such as Dave, Avi, etc. HELP ;-)

I presume the first thing to check is voltage at the clutch
magnet...where best to tie in to measure this?

If voltage is present and the clutch is not pulling in, what's next?
(I'm making an assumption that it may be present unless the breaking
belt destroyed the wiring to the clutch since the CC Head sez it is
sending the turn-on signal...and it worked before.)

What does it take to remove the clutch for closer inspection? (I see
pictures of special tools in Bentley...but what shadetree tricks work?)

Lastly, a list of good suppliers for AC clutch/compressor parts just in
case would be good.

TIA for this and I'm sure the suggestions you provide in reply will help
others too.

Mike Veglia
Motor Sport Visions Photography
http://www.motorsportvisions.com