Club 80-90 Forums

Hello,

1.6 TD - JX.

I tried to change my drive belts today, the water pump belt is well loose and the alternator belt is frayed.

After 1 hour I gave up!

Which is the best way to tackle it?

Remove the exhaust can and do it from below?
Leave the exhaust can in place and do it from above?
How do you stop waterpump from turning when undoing the bolts?
I managed to slacken the alternator bolts and swing it down, but not enough to remove the belt.

Then I got bored and frustrated and went back inside to hang a couple of doors (easier and more satisfying!).

Cheers,

Steve

i did this job not long ago.idealy you need two of you.one underneath turning the pulley.one above to hold something behind belt.you dont need to remove the exhaust.i used a steel rule behind the belt and a ring spanner on the pulleybolts.as you turn the pulley you slightly angle the rule.this will make the belt come off.its easier to show you how to do it than it is to explain.are you coming to dubfreeze we could do it there.or i could show you how its done...
you dont remove any bolts from your waterpump pulley...

No need to take silencer off (but yes it does make it a little awkward!) Working from underneath I used a 6mm hex bit and a ring spanner to turn the bit to remove the water-pump pulley.I must have been lucky but I managed to 'shock/scare ' the bolts out without the pulley itself wanting to rotate with them.You could always get someone to hold pulley belt from above whilst you beaver away below. On putting new water-pump belt on there's a chamfer/lead-in on back face of pulley which when you do up the 3 bolts will pull the pulley back into alignment and automatically tension your new belt. Just make sure you start the 3 bolts together and do them up evenly as you go.Put some anti-seize on the threads and you won't need any help next time changing it!