PCMAX

I recently had the adjustment rod for the alternator belt fall off my car due to breakage of the rod ends. I have repaired it and re-fitted the adjuster. When I look at the workshop manual it says I need Porsche special tool 9202 to adjust the tension. Surely they could just provide a figure for the amount of deflection required at the centre of the belt. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks
Peter

IceShark

The deflection by the push with finger method is supposed to be 5 mm. Of course how hard are you supposed to push? Blaszak says it should be set at 85 lbs if you have a tension tool like the Kricket which only costs about 10 bucks. 85 pounds is pretty darn tight but I haven't lost my alternator bearing yet.

7thStranger

I just use the twist method.
Believe me you will know if it is too loose.

Yabo

I just go by, whenever it stops screetching. I don't know if that's bad or not,, but i figure too loose is better than too tight.

Serge944

As according to the haynes manual, it should be "exceptionally tight." No more than 2-3 mm of deflection. Hope that helps...

smkn951

same here, i'ved used the twist method. it's been over a year since, i need to re-adjust it.
when your tensioner broke, did you check the alternator mounts? reason being, the tensioner broke threee times on me. culprit.........rear alternator mount bolt was missing and the alternator was on an angle.
good luck

Chris_924s

Exactly.. BDTD. For me it was the AC compressor bolts that had sheared.
FWIW 85# is about 1/8 deflection turn. It's very tight.

PCMAX

Forgive my ignorance but what is the twist method??

led

twist the belt...

PCMAX

"Twist the belt" what kind of answer is that??
Twist it a bit, a lot, 45deg, 90deg,180deg,????

Chris_924s

If you can grab the width of the accessory belt, twist the belt 1/8 to 1/4 turn (45 degrees would equal a 1/4 turn) before you cant twist it anymore.

1/8 to 1/4 twist (deflection) will be between 55 and 85 lbs tension for this application ONLY.

Hope this helps clarify.

PCMAX

Chris_924s,
Should have read your original post a bit better. Thanks for the helpfull explanation.

Peter

slowazzporsche

should move less than 1/2" if you're givin about 1/2 your strength

Minispeed

Not sure if the spec is different for an ac delete belt but i used this post to do mine and 1/8 to 1/4 was too tight for my car. Been waiting 1.5hrs so far for the tow truck and already ordered 2 new belts from rock auto. Will set the next one at over 45 degrees (60 probably). I dropped down a gear to pass a truck brought it to about 6500rpm (16v motor less than redline) and I'm assuming by the odd stutter around that point that that's when it broke.

Minispeed

Got the car back. Prob user error on my part that snapped the belt. Had recently changed the alternator and i guess i didn't torque down the pulley nut enough as it was missing and the pulley was loose.