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Home made Jack screw for belt tension

Discussion in '308/328' started by ClydeM, Nov 30, 2016.

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  1. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    11,892
    Wayne, NJ
    Full Name:
    Clyde E. McMurdy
    #1 ClydeM, Nov 30, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    When I was a kid, pulley jack screws were everywhere. Just open a JC Whitney catalog for a couple. But who needed one then when one hand held the tension with a tire iron & the other used a ratchet to snug the adjuster bolt down on the fan pulley?

    It's been a long while since I had to replace my alt-water pump belt. This was a brand new one put on by a shop and it has just been squealing like crazy - of course after I got home. If I had tried to drive back, it probably would have melted.

    so I dug up my old thread and after wrestling with the alternator while trying to get the right tension. I gave up & searched the net for a jack screw. Found only two. $20 & $60. Then I'd have to wait for one of them to come in the mail. Instead, I found this screw & block on a Catepillar site. Home Depot supplied the 5" carriage bolt/washers/nuts and 1x3 blocks of wood and it worked incredibly well.

    Now, I just have to figure out how to get the Krikit to work in that tight space.
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  2. Brian A

    Brian A F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2012
    3,148
    SanFrancisco BayArea
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    1983 US 308 GTS QV
    #2 Brian A, Dec 1, 2016
    Cool idea!
     
  3. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
    79,380
    Houston, Texas
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    Bubba
    #3 BigTex, Dec 5, 2016
    I keep a tapered cut of wood in the tool kit, as it IS hard especially alone, to crank the alternator housing out to proper belt tension, and then snug the bolt up, in the slide bar bracket.

    Great work!!

    You are right, by the time you hear a plastic belt squealing, it IS melting!
     
  4. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,098
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
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    Brian Crall
    #4 Rifledriver, Dec 5, 2016
    Long screwdriver been working for me since they were still making 308's. Still using the same screwdriver.
     
  5. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    11,892
    Wayne, NJ
    Full Name:
    Clyde E. McMurdy
    #5 ClydeM, Dec 7, 2016
    This was my method. But on jackstands, I just couldn't get a consistent pressure and gave up this time.
     
  6. andyww

    andyww F1 Rookie

    Feb 7, 2011
    2,775
    London
    #6 andyww, Dec 8, 2016
    Biggest timesaver for alternator tension for me has been drilling the heads of the pivot and tensioner bolts and fitting roll pins to prevent them turning.

    Then fit the bolts with nuts on the outside. Then long screwdriver method is easy.
     
  7. spicedriver

    spicedriver F1 Rookie

    Feb 1, 2011
    3,859
    #7 spicedriver, Dec 8, 2016
  8. E-Dino

    E-Dino Formula Junior

    Aug 11, 2012
    378
    San Diego
    #8 E-Dino, Dec 8, 2016
    Happiness = Building your own tools. Great idea.
     

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