Sounds like your belt is too small.

Maybe try heating the belt up, it will make it stretch some.

__________________

Interesting idea brother, heat it up...might do the trick...

I was just telling my bro in law it MAY be too small..and could just get the next size up I suppose and be done with it..I will report bakc..THANKS everone, we appreciate any and all feedback coming in

Dakota

The SD suffers from the same malady. It has the later water pump pulley and the short 1000 mm belts. It's impossible to install the belts with the water pump pulley in place. I cannot figure out the issue because the belts are Continental and are exactly to spec.

I had to remove the water pump pulley..........get the belts in the groove...........and reinstall it. Then, tighten the alternator. No fun at all.

I wonder if it's a common problem with the late 617's?

That is how I had to replace mine. Much more fun on a 240 since there is no evil fan clutch......

__________________
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

I believe the next belt size is 1017 mm. I might try that on the next belt replacement. I'm not optimistic, however, because the slot on the tensioner isn't all that long and the longer belts may result in the inability to fully tension.

We'll see..........

I just replaced all three of mine a couple of weeks ago. When purchasing he told me there showed to different numbers for the alternator belt. One is 1 inch shorter than the other one. I got the longer one, and it worked out good.

Gotta love the simplicty of the 240s. Mine doesn't even have AC so I only have two belts and all kind of room to change them, which I did yesterday in about 20 minutes.

__________________

I'd go to the store and get a slightly longer belt. If its that tight its to short.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Man taking off the water pump seems like a pain....We're going to try the heating the belt idea and maybe have to buy a little longer one..if need be. It seems as though theres more room to tension the belt away from the engine block certainly..Ok..Again we welcome any and all feedback..and for those that have chimed YOU ROCK!

Dakota