hmmmmm,
here's my 'easy' no prying Alt Belt tensioning method.
I tilt the alternator out until there's a litte belt tension..
and tighten the tension bolt so it holds, but not super tight, so I can draw
the alternator to the right with a channel lock pliers.

a pliers like that easily pulls the bolt head toward the end of the tension
bar , that the bolt goes through.
When you get the tension you want,
tighten the bolt the rest of the way.

scott
turbovans

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Riley" <mkriley@FUSE.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 8:26 AM
Subject: it's cold in MT and my van won't start re: belt tightening

> GET THE RIGHT BELT SIZE!
>
> with the proper 9.5 belt it can easily be adjusted with a 12" screwdriver.
> I run with 1" deflection
> and no squealing or chirps, My procedure is to put moderate pressure on
> the screwdriver and grab the alt. fan and increase pressure till it can no
> longer be turned by hand. tighten.
> the wrong belt is responsible for lots of alt mount problems and premature
> bearing wear in water pump and alt. Even some of the major suppliers sell
> the wrong belt. VW knew what they were doing, belts suppliers don't.
> mike
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>dear ether DONT DO THAT
>
>>>that means slack off alt and use a bar to pull tight then retighten ...
>>you must use the the ancient german spec g=FC**tnticht
>
>>because i often work alone on my ride ... i use a piece of parachute chord
>>and tie that to a place on the body >opposite the alt and in a double so i
>>can use a short screw drive to tighten up by tightening the chord like a
>>turn buckle > then i retighten alt
> vangon is always much happier after this ...
> remember only g=FCtnticht  so you do not mess up millwrights carefull line
> =