Author Topic: Quick basic question on the alternator belt  (Read 1405 times)

Offline Deefadog

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Quick basic question on the alternator belt
« on: 02 August 2005, 10:54 »
Which is the bset way too tighten the belt, i know what the tension should be just how to do it easy? - **i can never seem to do this easy**

Do you lossen top bolt and the lower bolt and then get the tension and tighten the bottom bolt first or get the tension and tighten the top bolt first?

Cheers
My 89 16v  /  Essential golf links

Offline Mr Blue

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Re: Quick basic question on the alternator belt
« Reply #1 on: 02 August 2005, 11:00 »
i loosend the top one. got a metal pole and prized the alternator back till i got the tention i wanted. then tightend it back up.
:)

Offline kniterider

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Re: Quick basic question on the alternator belt
« Reply #2 on: 02 August 2005, 11:21 »
loosen the main block bolt (which holds bottom of alternator to engine block, usually a 6mm allen key is used through a hole in the cambelt cover after removing a gromet), then loosen the bolt which connects to toothed bracket to the lifting eye hook (on 8v's similar on 16vs youll get the drift) then loosen the centre nut on the toothed locating/tensioning piece, every thing should then go slack, replace the belt, and repeat in reverse, push the alternator up with your hand until the gear engages with the toothed bracket, then use a spanner to wind it up the bracket till you get the correct tension on the belt, then whilst holding tighten the center bolt which goes through this to lock it, then tighten the bracket to lifting eye bolt then the alternator/engine block bolt and job done!!

all the above is provided the rack and pinion style sytem of tensioning the belt is working as often seized or rplaced for nut and bolt due to seizure, if its just nut and bolt then use a bar etc to hold alternator in position to get required belt tension then tighten the nut/bot to lock it...

easy!

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Offline jasonpi

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Re: Quick basic question on the alternator belt
« Reply #3 on: 02 August 2005, 11:35 »
tis an easy job but dont do what i did and overtighten it i drove 150 miles with a loose alternator nightmare spent the newark meet fixing the damn thing :grin: good laff tho

Offline Deefadog

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Re: Quick basic question on the alternator belt
« Reply #4 on: 02 August 2005, 11:38 »
Cheers! when i changed the belt last time i never un-did the main block bolt! (never knew about it)  just the bottom one that goes through the whole thing 20mm socket i think! and of course the top one :)

I'll have a play later :) cheers
My 89 16v  /  Essential golf links

Offline kniterider

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Re: Quick basic question on the alternator belt
« Reply #5 on: 02 August 2005, 11:46 »
i remember that jason!!! lol, was funny, i thought it was just squeeling cause you were running 100,000w worth of amps subs/speakers!! lol, not cause it was fallin off!!  you had an audience of pikey birds as well!!!

those were the days....

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Offline jasonpi

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Re: Quick basic question on the alternator belt
« Reply #6 on: 03 August 2005, 09:57 »
aye what can i say gaz im irresistable even to pikey women good job there was a homebase there.