1984 300DT. I loosened both 17mm bolts to release tension on the alternator so I could take the drive belts off to remove engine fan and drive pulley. Now, the alternator pulley is out too far to install the drive belts.

Do I turn the alternator tensioner bolt clockwise or counter-clockwise to loosen the alternator pulley to allow enough play to install the drive belts?

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Standard thread= Lefty-loosey, Righty-tighty

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All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

or counter

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Jim

IIRc there are 3 bolts that need to be loosened.
Then you can turn the tensioner nut ccw to pivot the alternator toward the engine, to get more room to install the belts.

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

Yes, three - not two.

If you did not live in the days when we used a two by four to leverage out the alternator (it was actually a generator) before bolting it tight, you will not appreciate the Mercedes method where you just tighten a nut until reaching the proper tension.

tightened the bolt with the other. After prying the alt once I realized tension needs to be metered to protect bearings.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

The threaded rod and head end clamp that holds the bolt that tightens/loosen were bent towards the firewall slightly. I managed to use a large flat head screw driver to re-align the head end clamp. The bolt, OTH, is slightly bent but I believe I can still thread the bolt onto it.

I'm going to have a helper hold tension on the alternator from underneath the car using a pry bar OR have them pry the alternator using a 2X4 piece of wood while I work topside threading the bolt onto the threaded tension rod.

Hopefully, this will go well so I don't end up doing the big wrench dance!!

the adjustor bolt threads were stripped so I ended up using another adjuster bolt I had lying around (DO NOT THROW THOSE OLD PARTS OUT...YOU JUST MIGHT NEED THEM). I noticed there appears to be a large fender washer on the adjuster bolt end. This is working PERFECTLY and I believe helps to prevent damage to the adjuster bolt!

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