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Date:         Mon, 4 Apr 2005 10:10:27 EDT
Reply-To:     Taobythesea@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         James Benthall <Taobythesea@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Stripped Alternator Mounting Bolt (was "Belt too Loose")
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi all, Well the continuing problem with my alternator belt working itself loose took another turn yesterday when I stripped the threaded mounting hole on the alternator itself ;-( I was trying to tighten the darn thing, after noticing that it had worked itself loose again, when I stripped it. This makes me wonder if the "soft metal" on the alternator itself was the culprit all along? Maybe I would tighten the mounting bolt (the one on top) and then it would slowly work itself loose over time due to this "soft metal"? I was thinking it was the type of belts I was using, but I tried all of them (but the factory VW belt) and it would always work itself loose after just a few hundred miles or like two months at the most. I had finally come upon the Goodyear Gatorbacks, with the recommendation of my alternator rebuilder guy, and they had seemed to work fine. The pullies are all in alignment, so I don't think it is that either. My questions are these: Can I retap the alternator mounting hole using a next size tap, and then go from there? Will it still just be "soft metal" and then continue to work itself loose? Are their any type of inserts or sleeves that are made of stronger steel that I can put in the mounting holes (pre-threaded or tapable)? Also, can I do all this without taking the alternator off the vehicle since it was a real b**** to stab the bottom bolt when I did this before? Thanks for all your help. Frustrated in Houston, James Benthall 87 Westy (The Phoenix)


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