Thanks Dennis - when I get around to changing the oil I will closely
inspect around the alternator and the mounting / adjustment bolts.  I
believe the belt is tight with minimal deflection with minimal bounce.  Not
sure whether the alternator - which has 9000 miles on it, is a rebuild or
not - it is a Bosch if that means anything these days.

BT

On Tue, Jun 2, 2020 at 5:44 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> There are a number of things that cause the alternators to vibrate and the
> brackets to fail. The GoWesty kits are great except I don't like that cheap
> bolt they use for the base hinge.
> The alternators themselves often have the rear bearings or the bearing
> support fail and this can set up a bad vibration. Many rebuilds have cheap
> rotors that are not balanced. Keep in mind the alternator spins about 2.5
> time the engine speed.
>
> Many folks don't properly tighten the lower swivel bolt-nut. If you can
> adjust the belt without loosening this it is too lose. Being lose here
> causes movement under load  which will wear the housing and eventually
> allow the movement and vibration to get worse.
> Then there is the fear of overtightening the belt. A loose belt will set
> up all sorts of vibrations to the alternator pulley. Rev the engine. The
> belt bounce should be minimal. If it is bouncing violently those forces are
> going into the alternator.
> Last of course is the belt quality. Originally this was a "special" belt
> design to operate at high tension. I'm trying to find something that really
> works.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of John Goubeaux
> Sent: Tuesday, June 2, 2020 6:18 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Alternator Vibration
>
> And here's the link to the post I mentioned, which talks about using both
> of the GoWesty Brackets to reinforce the weak original factory mounting
> method:
>
>
> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesamba.com%2Fvw%2Fforum%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ft%3D718142%26postdays%3D0%26postorder%3Dasc%26highlight%3Dalternator%2Bbracket%2Bstuds%26start%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C3dedfa0e9651458909bf08d80742e6dc%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637267331208667155&amp;sdata=qJbJpI4jdGDbS1P9qqL%2FuoNYCqILRej8xp63WzaiBqw%3D&amp;reserved=0
>
> On 6/2/2020 2:51 PM, Bruce Todd wrote:
> > I love this list! - thanks Stuart - I will add it to my wish list.
> >
> > Bruce
> >
> > On Tue, Jun 2, 2020 at 1:28 PM <stuartmacm@gmail.com
> > <mailto:stuartmacm@gmail.com>> wrote:
> >
> >     Go Westy has a couple of options here:
> >
> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gowesty.com%2Fsearch-results.php%3Fsearch_phrase%3Dalternator&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C3dedfa0e9651458909bf08d80742e6dc%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637267331208667155&amp;sdata=If%2BSRygSL%2FJwnHVdGvCUnHdLDOpA3pyJY8sT69aRQA0%3D&amp;reserved=0
> >     one is in stock.
> >
> >     Stuart
> >
> >     -----Original Message-----
> >     From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> >     <mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>> On Behalf Of John Goubeaux
> >     Sent: Tuesday, June 2, 2020 12:46 PM
> >     To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >     Subject: Alternator Vibration
> >
> >     Bruce, I can attest to what can happen, if/when the alternator
> >     vibrates and loosens or breaks the studs & bracket holding it to
> >     the case. It's a bad design and can be improved.
> >
> >     There is a good thread on thesamba that I contributed to, when I
> >     had to extract broken off studs in my case caused by a worn and
> >     vibrating alternator. I'll see IF I can find it.
> >
> >     My recommendation is address it before it causes real damage !
> >
> >     my two cents.
> >
> >     -john
> >
> >     On 6/2/2020 12:19 PM, Bruce Todd wrote
> >     > As well - I have been meaning to ask about alternator play or
> >     > vibration.   I am curious if other 2.1 Vanagons typically have
> >     > noticeable vibratory movement from the motor which is passed
> >     along to
> >     > the alternator?   There have been a number of mechanics over time
> >     that
> >     > have peered in the engine bay while the motor has idled and have
> >     never
> >     > mentioned a problem.   Just curious to see if this is a standard
> >     fare?
> >     >
> >     > Thanks,
> >     >
> >     > Bruce
> >     >
> >     > 86 Westy Syncro
> >
>