[Healeys] Adjusting generator belt

[simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com]

Agreed. I just use a bit of scrap wood.levered up a little and held in place
while the bolts are tightened. The slidey bolt underneath seems to be a
favourite to be forgotten.

I downloaded this a couple of years ago:-

"How to Adjust Alternator Belt Tension Without a Gauge. 

Proper belt tension is necessary to ensure the smooth operation and
longevity of your belt-driven components. Too loose and the belt may slip or
even be thrown off of the pulleys. Too tight and the belt will cause
excessive wear on the shaft bearings of the components it is driving. There
are several rules of thumb for checking the tension on a belt without using
a belt tension gauge.

Things Needed:-

Straight edge (a carpenter's level is a good choice)

Ruler

Ratchet and socket set

 

Step 1:

Measure the distance from the centre of the alternator pulley shaft to the
centre of another pulley that uses the same belt. This will probably be the
water pump or the crankshaft.

Step 2:

Lay a straight edge -- like a carpenter's level -- across the pulleys, over
the belt.

Step 3:

Place the tip of a ruler against the belt, in the middle distance between
the pulleys, with the ruler against the straight edge. Push down on the
ruler and measure the gap that forms between the belt and the straight edge.
If the pulleys are seven-to-eleven inches apart, the belt should move
1/4-inch. If the distance is over 11-inches, the belt should move no more
than 1/2 inch.

Step 4:

Adjust the belt by loosening the alternator mounting bolts with a ratchet
and socket. The most common problem is that the belt is too loose. Pull the
alternator away from the centre of the engine to tighten the belt. Hold the
tension with one hand while tightening the bolts. 

Step 5:

Recheck the measurement."

I don't suppose one would do all of that more than once. Do it the once to
get the feel of the correct tension...if you see what I mean.

Simon

 

 

From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of BJ8Healeys
Sent: 30 September 2018 00:38
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Adjusting generator belt

 

I second what Mike says.  Way back when I first got my BJ8 and didn't know
what I was doing, I installed a new fan felt and got it really tight (the
way I thought it should be).  Drove 300 miles and the generator bearings
crapped out.  It took me three days in Washington, DC to find a shop that
could fix it.

Healey Surgeons sent me a new one, but it wouldn't fit and it's all they
had.  I'm pretty sure it was the tight belt that ruined the bearings -- or
at least, shortened their life.

 

You really only need to get the belt tight enough not to slip on the
pulleys.

 

Steve Byers

HBJ8L/36666

BJ8 Registry

AHCA Delegate at Large

Havelock, NC  

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/healeys/attachments/20180930/3abe7b95/attachment.html>