This has probably been discussed around here before, but just in case someone is searching in the future, I successfully made it home tonight sans alternator / fan belt by using my shoelace...!
I've heard to use pantyhose in the past as a quick fix for a broken belt, but never actually tried it. and for some reason I wasn't wearing any today
so, time for trusty shoelace to come out of the shoe! lace was just long enough to get around the fan pulley, which was what I was worried about - overheating. I knew I could get by without the alternator. The headlights successfully drained the battery on the way... but a quick recharge overnight will fix that.
I just pulled the shoelace around the pulleys as tight as I could and made a couple knots and then cut off the ends after the knots. not perfect, but the fan spun and no signs of overheating! it slipped a bit at first, but once it caught and started to spin, it got up to speed and kept on a-goin.
So, in a pinch, I can attest to the shoelace trick- a good reason not to wear flip flops or velcro shoes, just in case

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1981 240D ... 265k
1977 240D ... 265k
1977 240D ... 250k

Love it.

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I could not own any MB without the help from you...fellow forum members.


83 300td 207,XXX

so I had to take a quick drive to the auto parts store to get a belt today, so I decided to replace the shoelace with some women's stockings just to see if that "wive's tale" would do the trick as well. I borrowed (well now that I cut them, I guess I bought 'em) some stockings from my friend - I used 1 leg tied once around the driveshaft and fan pulley and it worked great. I'd say far better than the shoelace - the shoelace worked, but the stocking really worked! you can stretch them to a tighter tension than the shoelace and it held really well too, whereas the shoelace was stretched out after my trip last night. i'd recommend a pair in everybody's trunk! although spare belts are best, this would be a very quick and "tool-less" way to get back on the road. and in this case I was able to just go around the driveshaft and fan pulley directly, without messing with the alternator- so the stockings are a custom fit to any job..! I'll be keeping the remaining leg of stockings I didn't use in my trunk!

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1981 240D ... 265k
1977 240D ... 265k
1977 240D ... 250k

How will you now explain the one legged girlfriend when caught with them in your possession? The center section could be used for armed robberies as well I suppose.

Maximising value from a product need not be a lost concept.

and here I was about to throw away the center section as useless... good ideas abound on this forum!

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1981 240D ... 265k
1977 240D ... 265k
1977 240D ... 250k