Alternator adjustment bolt fix
 

Hey,
I'll be stunned if this is original to me, but I didnt see it in my search.

Ok, broke my "L" bolt off trying to tighten the alt belts. Wasnt in the mood to spend $40 on a new one. So, I went to the hardware store, picked up a threaded eye bolt, put the alt bolt through the eye, threads through the bracket, used a coupling-nut as the tensioner, and viola, a new alt adjuster for $1.25. Much heftier than the original, too.
Enjoy,
Paul

Bravo!!

I'll keep that one in mind!! :)

Can you post a pic?

I'll keep that in mind when I put my alternator back in, and-hopefully-don't -break-it-but-just-in-case, soon :)

Pics would really help us out on this one. Sounds like a good fix, but I have to see things to "get it".....:dizzy2:

Pics
 

Ok.
1. The "L" adjusting bolt broke. The adjusting rod itself snapped off the main bolt. The portion that passes through and holds the alternator was still usable.

2. In the first picture is a sample of what I mean by "eye bolt". This is not the one I used; just one laying around.

3. The next shot shows the alt bolt passed through the eye portion, and into the alternator housing. I left the large washer between the eye and the bolt head to ensure a good squeeze. The shiny part is the eye bolt; it's threads are going to the left, into the adjustment bracket.

4. pic 3 is the threaded end sticking through the bracket. You can see the small nut that came with the eyebolt. behind that is the "coupling nut", about 1" long. Some washers make sure the bolts dont slip through the bracket hole. The little nut I use to lock the coupler in place.

Clear enough?

some labels might help

Now I get it. Thanks for the pictures.

Awesome Fix
 

I am so glad there are people out there smarter than me and willing to post fixes like this one. I broke the exact same part and was ready to go out and buy one for $40 when I came across this fix. Simple, cheap and smart. Thanks so much.

That is certainly a clever improvisation. I broke one of those adjusters myself a while back.

Thanks! and one more thing
 

Loving this thread, but could use a bit more advice. How long is the eye bolt you (plural) used?

sorry Psyclist. I sold the car a few months back, so I cant go measure it. I suspect it was 3" +/-. This is from years ago, so I hardly remember. You should be able to figure it out, though. Just needs to be long enough for the threads to reach. Enjoy!