alternator adjuster mod
 

Hello, got some questions about alternator adjusters. I know its been talked about a bit in here. I scanned through the threads but did not see anything on what I need to know so here it is..

I have a 77 300D and the alt adj is a gear type adjuster. It has a gear built into the bolt and rides in a track along the bracket. Well the gear is stripped and I can't get it tighter. Squealing belts have made me mad :mad:

So I gave MB my vin and ordered the new bolt that was stripped on the gear. But I ended up with a bolt that looks like below(pilfered from this site). And it won't work with out the tabbed bracket like below.

SO has anybody fitted this mod onto there engine? or should I find the bolt with the gear?

I cannot pry the alt to tighten. I have an air cond compressor above it, so access is limited. Underneath there is no room to pry. I need the adj to work.

If anybody has info in doing this change over what parts I need(other than bracket) I would appreciate the knowledge. Thanks :)

I'm not sure how to answer your precise question because I'm not sure what kind of bracket you have. However, I'm pretty sure the easiest solution is a trip to a U-Pull-it junkyard. Half and hour and you could have an alternator and bracket for $10.
However, I have seen an adjustor on a 617 with a kind of geared bolt that slid side to side across the bottom of the alternator. In that instance, it looked to me as if the bracket could not be removed without removing the crank pulley.

ah I don't like the idea of removing the crank pulley to remove the bracket... darn I might have to pull the a/c compressor to see what's needed...

I can take a pic of the geared bolt. Also my problem is no pic a parts up here. Very few junked MB's. I live in Northern BC.

Nice place to live but I see the problem. Perhaps a forum member on a junkyard run could get one for you. It's too cold here for junkyard play at the moment.
The bracket I referred to was on an MB van. I don't know if they put similar brackets on cars.

I understand everyones weather isn't conducive to mucking about at a junkyard.

I'll find some pictures of what kind off adj is in my 300D. That's a start anyhow.

I had one on my 77 do the same thing. I would recommend junking that POS gear adjuster and replacing with the newer type as well. I may be able to hit the junkyard tomorrow, but its gonna be a cold one.

you need the newer bracket for the alternator as well.

Ive tightened alternators before with broken adjusters, both old style like yours and new style like the pic. use a ft long angled prybar underneath and hold it downward (gently!) with your foot, tighten the upper outer bolt first then the inner and then let the bar go and go under and tighten the bottom one.

My upper bolt has a nut on the backside. to get it tight I need to be underneath. But I see what you talking about with the pry bar... let me try.

I appreciate the offer, but please wait. I will search locally in Northern BC and might even try calling into Vancouver.

I might be too far away to make it worth while from you. But you never know and I appreciate the offer. I might even price one with MB, cough cough......

Thanks guys.

I had to exhange this bracket on my '82 240. That "L" bolt is difficult, [and EXPENSIVE] to deal with, yet can be "urged" in. Please save long nut, no jokes, thank you...thank you, very much. Onward. There was a long bolt that "came in" from the rear of the car. It required the removal of the "other" bracket, just to get the darn thing out. If neccessary, to remove the "other" bracket, there are a number of bolts that it hold to the engine block. You will need to feel around, I think there were five, some on the side, some on front of the engine. Long, drawn out process. Patience, greasehopper. Patience.

Just for an FYI, to show what he is looking for. I had this out in the garage, in the pile of stuff I have pulled off of my '77 parts car. They are usually quite chewed up.......

I thought it was a cool idea, til mine stripped. Then I thought their idea sucked.

Bingo! I even tried taking my mig welder and lightly making the gears bigger. Didn't work.

It probably is a great idea. But I think I had a little inexperience with it, or the PO did. And when I tried to get it tight(the belt) I had issues moving it. SO I probably did not loosen the other bolts first.

I may remove my air/con compressor and built a tab to weld to the current bracket. One that I can use the new bolt. the L bolt.

Or I will get some dynamite and fix that squeally belt once and for all.......

Right now I am surviving with half a can of belt dressing on it. I know not great but stops the squeals.

Wait until you get out there to actually remove that air compressor and see what you are up against. Not at all a fun undertaking. I ended up taking off the entire bracket that goes halfway across the front of the engine.....:eek:

So there is no way to pry it and tighten?????? Heck, I'd park next to a tree and use a come-a-long if I had to!
We would love pics.....
I loved my '77, but there isn't much left anymore. A shame to get rid of a mostly rust free chassis, but I won't be needing it for anything.

On my '79 I have the same set up. You do it from under the car and you can use a prybar to move the alt and then tighten it down. You will not have any success from doing it from the top.