The alternator belts on my 84 300CD were changed a few years back. I remember getting good tension on both belts (belts were same manufacturer and run number). After a few days of squealing and other noises from under the bonnet I noticed one belt is tight and the other one is loose and whipping around.

I'm not looking forward to a few hours on my back in snow and -15C temps replacing the belts again so is it possible to cut the loose belt and run it on on the single belt for a month until the weather is better?

I know there's the risk that I could lose the other belt and possibly be stranded, but other than that are there any other risks involved in running a dual belt system with one belt for a few weeks?

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1984 300CD 155k miles
1983 300TD 199k miles
2005 Legacy GT Wagon

If the belt only runs the alternator you could carry a spare battery as a backup and/or put your battery on a charger at each destination. Since the engine doesn't use spark to run the biggest draw would be headlights. If it's all daytime driving you would just need to start the car, run wipers, use signals, and run the hvac blower motor. You'd risk having to change a battery in some terrible spot though.

Look up a stretch belt installer remover tool and variants of it. It rides on the edge of the pulley and slips the belt onto the pulley like a shoe horn, if anyone remembers those. Some designs are nicer than others. Magnetic might help. No idea if it would work here. If you try one just warm up the belt first in those temps.

I'll probably charge the battery every couple of days to be on the safe side.

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1984 300CD 155k miles
1983 300TD 199k miles
2005 Legacy GT Wagon

You'll be fine. The double belts were the "rarity", most cars (123 at least) had a single belt in those days (granted they were a 12mm belt not 10)

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1978 300D, 373,000km 617.912, 711.113 5 speed, 7.5mm superpump, HX30W turbo...many, many years in the making....
1977 280> 300D - 500,000km+ (to be sold...)
1984 240TD>300TD 121,000 miles, *gone*
1977 250 parts car
1988 Toyota Corona 2.0D *gone*
1975 FJ45>HJ45
1981 200>240D (to be sold...)
1999 Hyundai Lantra 1.6 *gone*
1980s Lansing Bagnall FOER 5.2 Forklift (the Mk2 engine hoist)
2001 Holden Rodeo 4JB1T 2WD

Keep in mind, if the other belt fails... you have no coolant circulating...

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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 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!