Chris71 Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Sorry, couple of numptie questions, but thought it wise to check... My alternator belt has started squealing badly again and there's no obvious means of tensioning it as it stands. There are only the three main bolts: alternator fixings Looking at the Caterham website I gather there's usually an adjustor bolt on the right hand side of this shot, but it's not present on mine. I presume it's just a missing bolt rather than a different type of adjustor or anything? Presumably once I've sourced a bolt all I need to do is losen the top mounting bolt and the bottom right mounting bolt, set the belt tension (just 'twangable'?) and then do the other two up again? There's no obvious sign of damage to the belt, but it has been slipping quite a bit on start up (on and off) for a while - should I replace it do you reckon? Secondly, the rear mounting point for my exhaust has what looks like a DIY bracket: bracket pic I take it'll be a straight swap for the normal S3 Rover bracket (https://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3164&osCsid=73faa81852190a57c096b8593ccf668d) - i.e. there's not a special Roadsport A exhaust or anything like that? Can anyone remember how the bracket is attached to the chassis - is there a captive bolt or something or am I going to have to remove the inner skin of the door to get to it? Edited by - Chris71 on 31 Aug 2010 12:22:22 Edited by - Chris71 on 31 Aug 2010 12:23:55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 rear barcket is standard ive just lobbed the unsed portion of mine off and going to get it replated soon front looks atandard too all bolts are there and the nut on the adjuster is ok ans there is a cast section in the alternator that head on the bolt goes in. hope this makes it clearer. Tweeky to infirmity.................... and beyond Edited by - tweeky on 31 Aug 2010 12:34:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_pank Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Loosen top bolt and bottom bolt. Use a breaker bar or large screwdriver to lever the alternator out to tension the belt. Once you've got it at the right tension with one hand, tighten the bottom bolt with one hand. When tight you can release the lever and tighten the top bolt at your leisure. back here because I want to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Odd thing to me about your rear exhaust mount isn't the bracket but the fact that the bobbin is under the bracket. All cars I've seen have bracket below bobbin with exhaust on top of the bobbin. I had a recurrent problem of alternator belt slipping even though I have the std tensioner and adjusted it a few times to cure the squeal. What I didn't know at the time was that it was a symptom of an internal failure starting in the alternator. The rear mount for the alternator spindle was failing allowing the pulley to move gradually closer to the crank pulley. May or may not be relevant to you. Steve. Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear who recommends Puddle Pet Care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris71 Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 Odd thing to me about your rear exhaust mount isn't the bracket but the fact that the bobbin is under the bracket. All cars I've seen have bracket below bobbin with exhaust on top of the bobbin. That's because the bracket on there - which sticks out at right angles rather than sweeping forward - places the tailpipe too far back to clear the rear wing if it's on top. It's the previous owner's bodge basically, and one which leads to the exhaust grounded (hence why I'm looking to change it). I just wanted to make sure there wasn't any other reason for the non-standard bracket being on there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris71 Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 Loosen top bolt and bottom bolt. Use a breaker bar or large screwdriver to lever the alternator out to tension the belt. Once you've got it at the right tension with one hand, tighten the bottom bolt with one hand. When tight you can release the lever and tighten the top bolt at your leisure. This is basically what I did before with the help of a friend who is knowlegable in all things Caterham. The thing is, he reckoned the fixings were different to normal and we had some trouble tensioning it, we only just managed to up the tension and that solved the problem for a few months, but now it's back... It only occurs on start up and when you have a very rapid change of engine speeds, blipping the throttle to change down, so I presumed it was just a little loose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris71 Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 front looks atandard too all bolts are there and the nut on the adjuster is ok ans there is a cast section in the alternator that head on the bolt goes in. Ah, okay, I think I got the wrong end of the stick - so it is only those three bolts and you have to apply the tension manually? Hmm, wonder what the problem was last time, I could swear something wasn't quite right, but I can't remember what... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Are you sure the adjuster winder bolt isn't there? I seem to recall it's damn difficult to spot unless you know where to look, and nearly as difficult to get an 8mm spanner on it to turn. It should be hiding behind the bracket. Loosen the lower bolt/nut, maybe loosen the top bolt/nut (can't remember if that simply spins)and wind the small adjuster winder bolt to deisred tension. Which on mine, is a gnats knacker away from one of the chassis members. Never hits it, and the belt occasionally squeals first thing on a damp morning if it's not been run for a while - as it hadn't while we were on holiday for 2 weeks. Back to commuting and it's fine again. Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris71 Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 Will double-double check, but we had a pretty good look before! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ric355 Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Click me for a picture of my K series dangling from an engine crane with the alternator in full view. You can see the head of the adjustment bolt on the end of the bracket. Bri - it is indeed necessary to loosen the top bolt as well as the lower one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris71 Posted September 1, 2010 Author Share Posted September 1, 2010 Click me for a picture of my K series dangling from an engine crane with the alternator in full view. You can see the head of the adjustment bolt on the end of the bracket. Yep, that's where I thought it would go. I don't have one of those I'm afraid. The slot is there (obviously), but not the bolt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 You're gonne have to wedges the screwdriver/crowbar in from the bottom to hold the alternator out while you nip up the clamp bolt. Crossflow ones are easier - you can get a good long screwdriver in from the top. Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 It would be much better to source the adjuster part(s) that's missing me thinks. Before I realised the adjuster was there I tried using a long bar to tension mine. Wasn't very successful. Steve. Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear who recommends Puddle Pet Care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris71 Posted September 1, 2010 Author Share Posted September 1, 2010 When you say parts... What's actually involved? I assumed it was just a single bolt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 Hence the brakceted "s". Not sure if you're missing just the adjuster bolt or that plus something else. Can't tell from your photo. Sorry for the hurried typing just off out. Steve. Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear who recommends Puddle Pet Care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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