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Author Topic: Tightening the alternator belt  (Read 7813 times)
Jon Weywadt
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« on: April 14, 2009, 10:04:36 am »

There sure isn't much room to tighten the alternator belt. Holding the belt tight and tightening the bolts at the same time requires more hands or dexterity, than my arthritic hands can do. So after fighting it and dropping wrenches under the car for about 15 minutes, I decided that another solution was required.

So here is my new alternator belt tightener.  Cheesy

I brazed (silver solder) a 6 mm bolt to the square plate that was under the fastening bolt. Then I made a U-shaped bracket and drilled a hole towards one side of the bottom of the U. The finished tightener now grabs onto the end of the adjusting bracket for the alternator and by tightening the nut at the end of the 6 mm bolt I can set and hold the belt at the correct tension. Then tighten the bolt on the alternator without it slipping back and loosening the belt again. Sweet. Smiley
« Last Edit: April 14, 2009, 10:07:52 am by Jon Weywadt » Logged

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Anders Dinsen
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« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2009, 10:37:06 am »

Hi Jon

Nice solution to a common problem.

A word of caution: Don't overtighten the belt - it's better to have a belt that makes a squeak now and then, than a broken one!

/Anders
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Jon Weywadt
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« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2009, 08:37:28 pm »

Hi Jon

Nice solution to a common problem.

A word of caution: Don't overtighten the belt - it's better to have a belt that makes a squeak now and then, than a broken one!

/Anders
Hi Anders.

You are so right, but too much squeling will also make it fail eventually. I have always heard that the belt shouldn't be tighter than you can pressit down about ½" between the pullys, so that is how it is right now. No more squeling.  Smiley

I was pleased with how well my solution worked, but hated fabricating it with rusty parts. When I have a chance I will shine it up and paint it, or make one of stainless steel.
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krede
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« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2009, 09:13:32 pm »

I eventually developed a method of tightening the belt from above by using a standard alternator belt tool and a ½ inch socked wrench... as my bet seemed to come loose WAY too often.
As It turned out the bracket holding the alternator lover mounting had become oval, and thus it was impossible to get the belt to run "straight".
So i would either have to get the belt REAL tight and listen to it grind away.. or live with very pronounced and embarrassing whining from the belt on start up.

And sadly the bracket cannot be replaced with the engine in place as the bolts go all the way through the timing chain cover (I am considering drilling some small holes in the inner wing/splash guard to be able to extract the bolts anyway.


But... back to the topic.... love your solution th the problem! good job Smiley     
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chew2
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« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2009, 03:14:03 pm »

my alternator seems to be broken how hard is it to change and will it be exspensive?                                                                                                    I have just bouhgt the car everything else seems ok .is there anything else i should look .
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suffolkpete
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« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2009, 06:12:44 pm »

What are the symptoms?  Does the warning light light up?  If not check the wiring to the alternator from the lamp, especially the fusebox on the left hand side and the connector next to the upper wishbone on the left under the bonnet.  If it seems ok, then connect a 12 volt test lamp between the alternator positive terminal and the lamp connection - that's the lower of the two spade connectors on the back of the alternator.  If the lamp lights, then the alternator is probably ok.  If the test lamp does not light or the warning light on the dashboard lights and remains lit when the engine is running, then the alternator is probably faulty.  Probably about £100 to replace, or you could try getting a specialist auto electrician to overhaul it.
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