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Date:         Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:04:00 -0500
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: did I do that-Alternator Bracket
Comments: To: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Of all the fasteners on the Waterboxer the two that hold the alternator bracket to the engine seem to be a very common failure. Like most threaded fastener failures this one is usually caused by incorrect hardware or installation. Loct tite, lock washer, nylon locknuts are not an answer and more likely can create a false sense of security. Also a defective alternator, (bearings, rotor balance) and inadequate tightening of the lower pivot bolt add the forces that stress these fasteners.

As I have stated in the past bolts, nuts, and washer come in various grades. Especially for this application if you obtained the nuts or washers from a parts or hardware you probably have the wrong stuff. You need property class 10.9 for this including the studs if they need to be replaced. Do not use exhaust studs as these are usually P.C. 5.8. Due to the forces here soft nuts or washer will deform and allow the connection to loosen. Locking stuff will keep the nut from falling off but the loose connection will allow the bracket to move slightly at first and getting worse as the new wear points begin to increase clearance allowing the forces to amplify and increase further. Eventually the stud will break form wearing through and/or the bracket will crack from the leveraged forces. The front of the case will also be pounded.

Use good hardware, properly tighten that pivot bolt. If you can adjust the belt tension without loosening the pivot it is too loose. Get a belt tension gauge. A lose belt can do more vibration related damage than an over tightened one and this one needs to tight due to the lack of wrap around the drive pulley.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Roger Whittaker Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 5:55 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: did i do that

dear fellow vanogonears

was traveling appointed rounds today when belt was tossed two lights came on ... limp home to remedy ... went to tighten alternator and discovered reason for belt toss the bolt fastened to block under alt had broken free of block by breaking metal surrounding bolt ... likely last time alt was changed or put in place or maybe several times before and simply worried apart in my care ... so because i only required to make two short trips today i jury rigged to a tightness that survived bench test revving and continued on 6 k later the belt tossed again this time i sussed further and discovered that the other of the two bolts holding alt in place was missing ... i tried to place a new one only to discover the old one had been twisted off ... when indeed and how long had this issue been festering ... should i look askance at previous engine install or my own self for not giving better inspection last time i tightened the alt ... i thought it was unusual to have to retighten every few months ... but had begun to consider it regular maintenance ... so she was towed home today ... flat deck mounted westie getting to be the yearly christmas feature in my traditions and first on the list for 2012 (unless end of world events preempt ...) fashion better alt bracket for 84 westie with transplanted slightly larger than OEM engine

a circus of events brought about in an effort to disturb my senses ... indeed regards

-- roger w From Proverbs: Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a servant who becomes king ... ---------------------------------------------------------- Explore printed work at: http://www.prliving.ca/ View the growing list of video work at: http://www.youtube.com/user/LastonLastof#g/u http://www.prpeak.com/articles/2010/11/29/multimedia/video/doc4c62e5f80d2285 04902172.txt


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