Help. Alternator belt change.

[Lawlessness]

How do you undo the locking bolt on the tension adjuster for the alternator belt. Skinned knuckles, much cursing and swearing and I am already late for boxing day festivities.

It's right behind the chassis rail for crying out loud. Why would you even put it there in the first place.

Thanks.

Edit. Apparently I need a 14mm longreach. Search is indeed my friend.

[Davezj]

no it is not, there is no locking nut on the one you should be undoing.
it is just down by the oil dip stick tube with the bolt head facing up which is easily accessable from the top with a socket set and an extention bar.

you may need to spary the slide mechanisum with a bit of WD40 (other looobs are available) to free it up if it is stiff.

if you undo the bolt, and you can see it unscrewing and it starts come out of the adjuster mechanisum, take the ratchet handle off the extention bar and wack ther top with a hammer and this will slide the bolt and the adjster pully downwards and take the tention off the belt.

hope the help.

[GalantOnly]

14mm

[Gowf]

no it is not, there is no locking nut on the one you should be undoing.
it is just down by the oil dip stick tube with the bolt head facing up which is easily accessable from the top with a socket set and an extention bar.

you may need to spary the slide mechanisum with a bit of WD40 (other looobs are available) to free it up if it is stiff.

if you undo the bolt, and you can see it unscrewing and it starts come out of the adjuster mechanisum, take the ratchet handle off the extention bar and wack ther top with a hammer and this will slide the bolt and the adjster pully downwards and take the tention off the belt.

hope the help.

You need to undo the nut that holds the pulley on though, and for that yes a long reach 14, however you'l find that you'l round it unless its the right kind of spanner. Get yourself a 13mm ratchet spanner with a 3/8" attachment then use a shallow 3/8" 14mm socket. It'l come off no bother.

Or.... if you dont have any of that, which i didnt once, get a 1/2" socket on there and grip it with some decent molegrips.....

It is a pig of a nut once rounded

[Turbo_Steve]

14mm offset ring spanner FTW!

[Davezj]

why would you need to take the pulley off?

you just under the tensioner bolt and the the belt comes off, doesn't it?

[Nick Mann]

Dave, that nut locks the pulley to the slider mechanism. (The awkward one by the chassis rail.) You need to loosen it before you adjust the tension on the bolt you are referring to.

[Davezj]

ooh!
that means my nut on the pulley must be perfectly tensioned then.
as my pulley moves down (slacken) with you undo the bolt and a little tap from a hammer on the blot to get it to slide down the adjuster mechanisum. and when the bolt is done up (not very tight but a little resistance) it tightens the belt and then stay in position.
so i have never needed to adjust the pulley nut at all.
i suppose it is not technically the correct way to adjust it but if you tension the pulley nut just so it is a dodle to adjust, works for me.

[peter thomson]

It sounds as if the pulley nut is loose then Dave as you should not be able to tension the belt without undoing it

[Davezj]

yes, ordinaraly i would agree with you, but it seems that once adjusterd the tension remains the same as set. well since i have changed the alternator belt the tension has remaind the same as when i changed the belt a few month ago now so i am happy with the setup.

[peter thomson]

I would be concerned with the nut coming off Dave and the pulley then causing damage if it came off

[Davezj]

i take your concerns on board and will check it for the required torque setting.

[GalantOnly]

Pulleys bearing may be damaged if nut is not tight. The pulley will not slacken itself like this, but there will be some minor lateral movement, which can cause some problems... So you might consider tighten it anyway, Dave

[Lawlessness]

Do you think I can find a 14 mm offset ring spanner anywhere without buying a 50 or 100 piece set. I am frustrated to the point of calling Hometune. Anyone got one in South Auckland?