In a message dated 16/11/2008 12:07:19 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

        Greg, the screeching belt  is the famous Vanagon alternator/waterpump
belt squeal.  Almost every  waterboxer engined Vanagon will do this now and
then.  The problem is  the belt may be loose, worn or hard.  The pulleys may be
damaged.  The  belt tension cannot be too tight as this will wreck the Barbie
sized bearing in  the waterpump.  So, we are left with occasionally putting
up with the  Vanagon belt squeal.  A new good quality belt, tensioned correctly
 will most always cure the problem - for awhile.  Belt dressing helps  also
as the belt gets older and harder.

        As for the power steering  pump bracket you stripped, I should have a
good used one lying around here  if you don't find one near to you.  Just be
aware I'm leaving for  Mexico and the _Buses in  Bacalar_
(http://poolio.net/bacalarblog/)  trip next Tuesday.   You can always repair the  bracket you have
by welding on a new nut.

>>>>>>>>>My vanagon occaisionally makes a  hideous screeching sound just after
starting up. It sounds a lot like a  loose power steering belt, but the
noise doesn't require steering input to  occur. It always goes away after
a minute or less, and I've rarely ever  heard it happen when the engine
is warm. It does vary with engine RPM,  getting louder (but going away
sooner) as RPMS increase.

The belts  are a bit worn, but seem to be tensioned correctly. I replaced
them this  afternoon, and in the process I managed to strip the threads
on the bolt  that keeps tension on the PS pump. Replacing the original
bolt with  something longer (I think it was a CV bolt) got it snugged up
again, but I  am definitely on the lookout for a new bracket.
Unfortunately it turns out  that the PS pump and bracket are missing from
the engine I bought 2 weeks  ago, so there's no basis for comparison to
be found until I next get near  one of my Dad's 85's.

I also noticed there was about 1mm of  fore-and-aft play on the PS pulley
shaft, is that  normal?<<<<<<<<<<<

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://frankcondelli.com/busindex.html)  -
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://frankcondelli.com/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15,  2008

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