Tightening Engine Belt

shank

shank

.
Apr 20, 2016
133
Catalina 27 5231 Lake Champlain
I made this engine belt tensioner tool I wanted to share in case it helps someone else. I have a Catalina 27 with a Universal 5411 and I could never get the belt tight enough with just my hands. It's just two blocks of wood with holes in one end that the 5/8" bolt sits in. There's a washer on each end and a washer on one end. Just tighten the bolt with the washer to the right belt tension and end then just tighten your alternator bracket. I bought something similar online and it bent and broke the first time I used it. This one is much stronger (and cheaper)
 

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Richard19068

Richard19068

.
Jun 11, 2004
1,905
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
shank said:
I made this engine belt tensioner tool I wanted to share in case it helps someone else. I have a Catalina 27 with a Universal 5411 and I could never get the belt tight enough with just my hands. It's just two blocks of wood with holes in one end that the 5/8" bolt sits in. There's a washer on each end and a washer on one end. Just tighten the bolt with the washer to the right belt tension and end then just tighten your alternator bracket. I bought something similar online and it bent and broke the first time I used it. This one is much stronger (and cheaper)
Click to expand
Thanks. That looks almost just like mine. Been workng for me for years.
 
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Richard19068

Richard19068

.
Jun 11, 2004
1,905
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
shank said:
I probably got the idea from you if you posted it here. I'm too dumb to come with this on my own
Click to expand

It has been a long time but I think I may well have got the idea from someone else here. ;)
 
D

dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
13,951
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
This link references an article no longer available from Good Old Boat.

goodoldboat.com

Dogwatch Mail Buoy – July 2017

Great alternator tensioning device In the June Good Old Boat Newsletter Dave Lochner has an article (“DIY V-Belt Tensioning”) with an excellent idea about tensioning the alternator belt. On my Pearson 365, the access is one-handed or two people from different directions. David’s idea was good...
goodoldboat.com goodoldboat.com
 
shank

shank

.
Apr 20, 2016
133
Catalina 27 5231 Lake Champlain
I like how the wood blocks are cut to the shape of the pulleys
 
BigEasy

BigEasy

.
Jun 21, 2004
3,093
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Great idea; I am still using the pry bar method for adjusting belt tension.

FYI, if you are interested in acquiring an article from an issue of “Good Old Boat”,
send a request to Sailrite & request a pdf version. Sailrite obtained the entire volume of past issues & will provide a free copy of a given article. Not sure if they plan to archive & index for future availability.
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,455
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
I remember learning to tension an alternator belt watching a Navy LtJg work on his GTO in the 60’s.

When I began to work on my diesel @Stu Jackson was here on SBO sharing insights.

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forums.sailboatowners.com
He was using the same spring loaded tensioner tool.

I spent the $15 and used it back in 2015. Only challenge was as I removed the tool half of it dove into my bilge. It is a dark hole that eats tools. During my engine rebuild, I worked to clean the bilge and recovered several long lost screwdrivers, sockets, and the missing half of the tensioner tool.

Fortunately the tool was given a second life in my tool box. Last week I noticed a bit of belt dust around the engine. I grabbed the tensioner tool and adjusted the belt tension. Then adjusted the Balmar regulator belt manager to reduce the alternator output extending the life of the belt

@shank your organic tool is great. Very effective. Thanks for sharing. :beer:
 
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