Date:         Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:52:23 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Change a VW Fan Belt In 5 Seconds?
Comments: To: W Monk <billmonk@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

it's not that big a deal, but you DO have to be careful, and know what you are doing.

here's a perfect example of use of the trick,
I was suspicious of an alternator or water pump bearings once, and just needed the belt off to check for play, smoothness etc.

in some cases it's a real pain to first figure out the adjustment procedure, then release the adjustment, do the check, then put it back on.
So it's real handy if you can just flip the belt off quickly.

one......you have to be certain, absolutely certain which way the engine is going to turn on the starter.
you need to allow for the right angles, the right direction etc.
Disable the ignition so it won't start.
arrange the tip of a very large, and dull, screw driver  under the edge of the v-belt, so the next tiniest bit of turning will make the screwdriver tip flip the belt off.
stay back, don't get hair and clothes near anything, hold the screwdriver lightly.
have the person on the key .........
or MUCH BETTER - use your Remote Starter Switch, or cheater wire in the engine compartment, to operate the starter yourself.
Don't 'crank it over' ......
instead, just barely bump the starter . Sometimes just 2 inches of crank pulley turning is enough to flip off the belt. 

YMMV of course !
Scott 



----- Original Message ----- 
  From: W Monk 
  To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans 
  Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com 
  Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 3:04 PM
  Subject: Re: Change a VW Fan Belt In 5 Seconds?


  As neat of a trick as this is I had been on a first name basis with the staff at the ER for
  way to long to even think about giving it a shot.

  B.


  On Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 5:28 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

    I didn't watch the vid,
    but is it just prying the belt off with the tip of  a screwdriver ?
    that works REALLY well....
    just arrange the screw driver, bump the starter a time or two.
    belt jumps right off.
    same going back on.

    where this can be useful is not having to readjust the belt tension going
    back together.
    Scott
    www.turbovans.com 



    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "neil n" <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
    To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
    Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 10:07 AM
    Subject: Change a VW Fan Belt In 5 Seconds?



      Hi all.

      Don't try this at home!   ;)

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQhfcdQf1QA&feature=player_embedded#

      Neil.

      --
      Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

      http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

      http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines