The belt tensioning bolt on my alternator (through the slotted bar) fits
into a threaded hole in the alternator.

I would think it would be pretty easy to drill out, BTW.

Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Beierl" <dbeierl@ibm.net>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2000 9:58 AM
Subject: Re: Sheared alternator bolt

> At 11:26 6/24/2000, Chris Stann wrote:
> >
> >Now, when I was first removing the alternator the bolt that keeps tension
> >on the belt sheared.  YIKES!  Now I have a good alternator with a plugged
> >hole.  There's not enough thread on the reverse side to attempt to drive
> >in a bolt and drive the broken one out.  Also, there's not enough of
> >broken bolt sticking out to attempt to grasp it with vice grips.
>
> Chris, I'm confused.  Are you talking about the bolt which clamps a
slotted
> strap to a lug at the top of the alternator (the sliding point), or a much
> longer bolt that clamps the two lugs at the bottom of the alternator into
> their bracket (the pivot point)?
>
> In either case they are not threaded into the alternator itself, but into
a
> nut on the other side.
>
> The ETKA CD doesn't mention it, but I've seen alternator brackets with a
> nut welded on to the inside leg (you Brits can stop falling about now...I
> have been served)  so that you need only one wrench to tighten the pivot
> bolt -- is that possibly what you're talking about?
>
> Failing that, I would simply take the alternator off and support the lug
> holding the stuck bolt, and tap it through with a largeish pin punch and
> hammer.  Some penetrating oil would prolly help too.  When aluminum
> corrodes, the white corrosion products can fill the space btw bolt and
hole
> with great force -- I've seen aluminum cleats actually split in half
> because of this.
>
> david
> ps -- *Please* always mention the year of your beast -- it often does make
> a difference.  For example, what I've said applies to 1.9 and 2.1
> watercooled, but is probably completely wrong for aircooled...
>
> David Beierl - Providence, RI
>   http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
> '85 GL "Poor Relation"
>