Alternator belts

[JoDan]

With the exception of the new alternator, the pulleys do have rust in them. Would the rust really cause a problem?

Well even if rust isn't the problem it wouldn't hurt to get it off there... and it might be tearing into the belt too

[hawkdoc60]

Are you making sure youre tightening the lower bolt and not just the upper bolt. Bella was doing the same thing and then I discovered that bolt. Tightened it down and bingo no more troubles.

When I replaced the alternator, I had to replace the bolts, too. The prior owner rethreaded the alt with SAE threads and bolts. As a result, they never tightened quite right. I had to add a jamnut to the top bolt. When I replaced the bolts with new metric bolts, I made sure both were tight.

Sorry I didn't answer this right away, I missed it somehow while scrolling the first time.

[zoe60]

Maybe your new alternator is bad. Might take it back and try another. Had that happpen to me on an old '71 cutlass convertible once.

[hawkdoc60]

Maybe your new alternator is bad. Might take it back and try another. Had that happpen to me on an old '71 cutlass convertible once.

I would agree, except it was doing this the same way prior to changing the alternator.

[Ogrestiva]

How many mm of deflection are you putting into the belt?

[ejp2fast]

hawk, maybe it'd help to take a couple of pics of this area to help pinpoint.. worth a shot.

[hawkdoc60]

How many mm of deflection are you putting into the belt?

Off the top of my head, I don't remember what it was. I'll look it up gain.

hawk, maybe it'd help to take a couple of pics of this area to help pinpoint.. worth a shot.

I was thinking of doing just that this evening.

[Ogrestiva]

If my memory serves me correctly It's supposed to be 9mm of deflection, but I could never get my hands in there to check. otherwise you start to wear down the bearings, which could cause the pulley to wobble or tilt, which could conceivably cause your bearings to wear faster.

[hawkdoc60]

I was thinking it was 10mm, but I'm not sure without looking again.

[ejp2fast]

what about over tightening?

[hawkdoc60]

what about over tightening?

I don't believe so because I was making sure the belt had the deflection specified.

[hawkdoc60]

Here's a few photos.

This first one shows the rubber powder on the alternator as well as how far down in the pulley it is now when I apply pressure as a result of deteriorating on the way home.



This one shows how much slop there is in the belt as it was when I parked it at home. Also, you might be able to see the belt powder residue on the timing tab.



This is as the belt is just hanging with no interference by me.



Once again, the alternator did not come loose. The car ran wonderful after I replaced the alternator until last night. This problem has always started all of a sudden.

I don't know guys. This has me stumped.

[hawkdoc60]

I forgot to mention that I can go for 2-3 weeks with no issues and then it just suddenly starts acting up.

[Ogrestiva]

Does it sequel after tightening? or when it rains?

[hawkdoc60]

Does it sequel after tightening? or when it rains?

No on either.