355 Alternator/Water Pump Belt Adjustment

Its the opposite to a normal bolt, right turn slackens and left turns tighten.

 

No it isn't. Its a right hand thread just like 90% of all fasteners world wide. You are confused. Tightening the belt requires moving the pulley away from you which requires "Loosening" or turning the bolt counter clock wise.

Maybe you should reconsider performing your own service.

 

Because it is captive with no threads where it is held (you can see it in the picture no thread section), turning the bolt only spins the bolt. Anything on the threads (ie tensioner) will thus travel up and down the bolt when spun. Using your minds eye you can envision loosening the bolt causing anything on the threads to CLIMB the bolt and tightening the bolt causing anything on the threads to DESCEND the bolt. Loosening causes Climbing the threads which pushes the tensioner up which increases the belt tension.

So it is "opposite" to what one would intuitively think, the threads are RH but since the bolt is not threaded in place, loosening the bolt makes the belt tighter and tightening the bolt makes it looser which is what Elliot said actually. " right turn slackens and left turns tighten." You both said the same thing.

You also can put jam your index finger next to the pully and belt junction and turn the bolt slightly you can feel it tighten or loosen to determine the direction as well.

But yes, looking at the bolt its pretty obvious how it works, not seeing that could lead one to question ones general mechanical ability.

 

I understand the Elliott's statement "opposite to a normal bolt" to mean opposite turning of the bolt (not opposite thread of the bolt), when tightening or loosening the BELT as compared to how normally a tensioner bolt is turned - normal: left to slacken, right to tighten; Ferrari: left to tighten, right to slacken (tighten and slacken refer to the BELT).

 

If you are not careful with which the tensioner bolt should be turned, your bracket may end up like this:

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I was waiting for Rifledriver… maybe I could have worded it better but yeah it’s been detailed enough now.


I also don’t think I will reconsider doing my own services thanks for the tip though.

 

He's super helpful but... It's exactly like he resents being helpful at the same time.

He'll help while swinging backhands at everyone in the room. Exactly like the celeb chefs in those angry chef kitchen boiler room shows.