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

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

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77 300D- new to me, lots of "issues" to deal with. But a nice unit.
Diesel man- 84 Toyota Diesel cruiser

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.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

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.

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77 300D- new to me, lots of "issues" to deal with. But a nice unit.
Diesel man- 84 Toyota Diesel cruiser

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.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

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.

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77 300D- new to me, lots of "issues" to deal with. But a nice unit.
Diesel man- 84 Toyota Diesel cruiser

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.

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.

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77 300D- new to me, lots of "issues" to deal with. But a nice unit.
Diesel man- 84 Toyota Diesel cruiser

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.......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

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.

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77 300D- new to me, lots of "issues" to deal with. But a nice unit.
Diesel man- 84 Toyota Diesel cruiser

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.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

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.

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77 300D- new to me, lots of "issues" to deal with. But a nice unit.
Diesel man- 84 Toyota Diesel cruiser

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.

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83 SD

84 CD

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

It Me too.

I used a big screw driver to pry the alternator over then tightened everything up.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Been that way on Chevy pickups for years.........

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John