Date:         Mon, 20 Nov 2000 13:24:10 -0800
Reply-To:     "MOST,DAVID" <most@UCLA.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "MOST,DAVID" <most@UCLA.EDU>
Subject:      belts changed successfully
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Thanks to those who offered advice on changing the alternator and power
steering belts.  Joel and Ben had particularly useful suggestions.

For those searching the archives later, I'll just mention the way things
worked for me.  I loosened the alternator pivot bolt before loosening the
adjusting bolt.  This belt came off quite easily, and I was able to use
the standard lug wrench (for the wheels) as a lever in tightening the new
belt.

I loosened two pivot bolts on the power steering pump before loosening the
adjusting bolt.  The old belt was a bit difficult to get over the pulley
as the pump will move only so far.  One coolant hose has to be temporarily
disconnected in order to change this belt, and a few drops spilled out.
Getting the new belt on was very tough for some reason.  The size I
received from the bus depot was 10x1075 though the print catalog says
10x1080.  I don't think that this would make much difference in any case.
I was able to get the belt on by getting it on half way around the pulley
and then turning the assembly as if the belt was on completely.  It's
analagous to putting part of a bike chain on and then turning the pedals
to mount the chain completely.  There's no way that I can see wrap the
belt around the pulleys without doing this.

I DON'T know if this will have cured my low battery problem, so I will
have to check the alternator output.  The local FLAPS does this for free,
but I'd like to learn how to do it myself.

Thanks for the help,
David