Hey James - just to clairify...are you running the stock motor?

Tom

----- Original Message -----
From: James Benthall
Sent: 4/4/2005 8:10:27 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Stripped Alternator Mounting Bolt (was "Belt too Loose")

> Hi all,
> Well the continuing problem with my alternator belt working itself loose  took
> another turn yesterday when I stripped the threaded mounting hole on the
> alternator
> itself ;-(  I was trying to tighten the darn thing, after noticing  that it
> had worked itself
> loose again, when I stripped it.  This makes me wonder if the "soft  metal"
> on the
> alternator itself was the culprit all along?  Maybe I would tighten  the
> mounting bolt
> (the one on top) and then it would slowly work itself loose over time due  to
> this "soft
> metal"?
> I was thinking it was the type of belts I was using, but I tried all of  them
> (but the factory
> VW belt) and it would always work itself loose after just a few hundred
> miles or like two
> months at the most.  I had finally come upon the Goodyear Gatorbacks,  with
> the
> recommendation of my alternator rebuilder guy, and they had seemed to work
> fine. The
> pullies are all in alignment, so I don't think it is that either.
> My questions are these:  Can I retap the alternator mounting hole  using a
> next size tap,
> and then go from there?  Will it still just be "soft metal" and then
> continue to work itself
> loose?  Are their any type of inserts or sleeves that are made of  stronger
> steel that I can
> put in the mounting holes (pre-threaded or tapable)?  Also, can I do  all
> this without taking
> the alternator off the vehicle since it was a real b**** to stab the bottom
> bolt when I did this before?   Thanks for all your help.
> Frustrated in Houston,
> James Benthall
> 87 Westy (The Phoenix)