Alternator adjustment question
 

the alternator belt on my 81 240D has been squealing a bit, and the belt seems a little loose. the adjustment bracket seems to be bent where the adjustment bolt fits into it, and im not sure how to go about correcting it, and tightening the alternator belt. do i need to bend/reshape the bracket for the adjustment screw to work? can i even do that or do i need a new bracket? i guess im not really even sure how the adjustment screw fits in the bracket to begin with... here are some pics of what i mean:

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...n/IMG_2846.jpg

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...n/IMG_2847.jpg

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...n/IMG_2848.jpg

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...n/IMG_2849.jpg



does anyone have a photo of what this SHOULD look like?

It should be at a sharper angle. The slot in the adjusting nut should slide into the fork.

Be very careful. If you can, remove it from the car, heat it up and bend it into shape.

yours looks like someone tried to loosen the alt with it, before loosening the rear three bolts/nut...
FIRST loosen the three 17mm bolts from the rear of the alternator.
then loosen the 13mm nut on the bracket bolt.
then pivot the thin threaded part up out of the way, and remove the belt from the alt, and let it dangle... don't worry, it can't go anywhere, the ps and a/c belts keep it on.
anyway, take a hammer and gently tap the fork part back flat so it almost touches the bracket again, and slide the 13mm nut groove into the fork.
then slide the alt out far enough to get the threaded rod into the nut, and put the belt back on. then tighten the nut slowly until the belt feels tight, then tighten the three bolts on the back, and you are done!

If you happen to snap off the long skinny shaft:
Using an Eye Bolt to repair a broken alternator tensioner bolt
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/290803-stuck-v-belts-alternator-bolts-frozen-tension-bolt-broken-post2620258.html#post2620258

This pic may help.

Quite some reading material you'll have there in Virginia.

:D

nice thanks guys!! i'll see if i can get in there this afternoon (its the lady's car so shes always got it at work when i want to work on it...!) i didnt realize it should be such a sharp angle , thanks for the pic toomany. vstech- thanks for the step by step thats what i will try.

Ditto, When I got this car a shop had installed a belt too long for the application. They kept trying to adjust it and like yours bent it. I carefully bent mine back I believe with pliers ?