What exactly changed on the '84s onward that causes this difficult belt change?

__________________
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You never did read post #19.............

Because, if you did, you would already have your answer.

what about removing the alt bracket for the belt install? I can usually change an alternator in 45 minutes on the earlier models... getting the bracket out of the way might speed the belt change, no? I know the turbo is different on the newer 617's likely it's in the way for this to go smoothly as well...
as soon as I take possession of the 85 SD I'll confirm...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I never tried it.

If you do remove the bolt that secures the bracket, the entire affair must move closer to the block to get sufficient pulley clearance for the belts. I'm not sure it will do this, but I'd sure be interested if you try it.

Also, to withdraw that final bolt all the way from the rear is not going to be pleasurable in any way.

its a cd but no difference as far as hassles.

Here's a partial view. I'm in the middle of a water pump change on the 85.


IMG_2830

There is still some room for the tensioning screw to slide to the loosening end of it's track. I didn't have to remove any of the mount bolts.

Edit: This is for a 300D, so not relevant.

__________________
1985 300D-189k The 'UD', Ivory and Pinkamino
1979 300D-211k Dark Gray, Parchment
A 1980 Harley-~166k and
A 1994 Ford diesel pickup-349k and
A 1990 gasser Volvo wagon-145k

really? because in 83, the 126 series of vehicles, changed their pulley arrangement for a higher speed water pump, and cooling fan. I seem to remember that they also changed to a plastic fan, that did get incorporated into the 123 line, but I'm not sure. I do know that the 123 did not get the smaller pullies. also, in 84 or 85, MB added arv to the turbo, and changed the arrangement of some of the parts.

I'll know more on the differences once I get possession of my 85 SD...
still, the coupe 123 would not share many of these changes, and certainly not on the 82...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

If you have any more pictures I for one would like to see them.

Sorry I'll be more specific - any more pictures of the pulley set up on your '85!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Sure I will, what specifically do you want?

__________________
1985 300D-189k The 'UD', Ivory and Pinkamino
1979 300D-211k Dark Gray, Parchment
A 1980 Harley-~166k and
A 1994 Ford diesel pickup-349k and
A 1990 gasser Volvo wagon-145k

Well really I wanted to see just how much of a pain in the arse it is to change the belts on these cars with many options fitted. My W123 300D couldn't be easier to work on. I'd just like to see why it was such a pain for panZZer - and if your car's close enough I'll get the picture (so to speak)

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Half of it was jacking with the PS pump,,m, you end up removing the outside thru bolt all the way out -and loosen what appears to be a tensioner bolt--Then take the inside two loose, and the pump still wont budge, you loosen up the inside two more and start assaulting the pump--- and end up breakin it loose --bu no sliding adjustment motion.
Instead you sorta rotate the far driverside corner inward tward the fan --and somehow manage to get enough clearance to get the GD belt off
^&**(^$#%^@#$%^@#$$!%#XXXXXXX#@$%T#^%$#!

That's typically "operator error", I'm sorry to tell you. Finding all three bolts is the trick. The tensioner works properly on the PS pump if you do.

The a/c compressor is quite a different story. I have never got the compressor to properly yield position sufficiently to install the belt without engine assist.

The last bolt you are talking about--im not understanding--If I had of take the inside two completely out the pump would have come off
--middle of the day Why are u not at the shop?

yall ever buy steel from that awesome old foundry-- Crucible in Syracuse?

I had real trouble finding the last bolt..........buried way below the pump..........NFW is it visible in any way. You must feel for it. Three get loosened..........then the tensioner works fine.

No shop today...........either Wednesday or Thursday this week.

Here's the topside from a couple of views. I couldn't get a decent shot from the bottom.

The top bracket that the alternator moves in:


IMG_2855

The adjustment screw that I can turn by hand (after initial loosening) to get the belts snug:


IMG_2854


The 2 bolts on the top closer to the block and the one accessible from below need to be loose but not totally disconnected so that the alt will move properly. But this is on a 300D, not the SD.

__________________
1985 300D-189k The 'UD', Ivory and Pinkamino
1979 300D-211k Dark Gray, Parchment
A 1980 Harley-~166k and
A 1994 Ford diesel pickup-349k and
A 1990 gasser Volvo wagon-145k