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I just refreshed the belts.
The only challenging part is reinstalling the AC compressor as it is a bit of hand torture to get the square hold down nuts in place and I invariably drop a nut or two along the way resulting in a fastener fishing expedition.
I was thinking of a fastener upgrade in some way to make the square nuts captive but still able to move laterally as the compressor is moved to tighten the belt.
Or making some sort of tapped bar stock that fits where the nuts go that has a 90-degree bend in it forming a handle for holding it in place while the bolt is tightened.
Or even using a slightly longer belt so it can be slipped over the compressor pulley without the need to unbolt the compressor.
Or a Cage Nut that is retained in the slot but can move along the slot
At this point, I have been using some electrical tape as a tail to hold on to the square nuts and reduce the risk of dropping them when positioning them under the compressor mount. Has anyone here on Rennlist found a solution to simplify the challenge of getting the square nuts on?
Andy
Last edited by pp000830; Feb 12, 2020 at 05:40 PM.
I use a small magnet, about the size of a watch battery, in the fingertip of my rubber glove--easy to hold the nut with one finger and prevent dropping.
I use a small magnet, about the size of a watch battery, in the fingertip of my rubber glove--easy to hold the nut with one finger and prevent dropping.
Hi Bobby,
I really admire those who exhibit unique cleverness on a small scale!
Andy
I went ahead and purchased some Dayton industrial V-belts from Granger Industrial Supply thinking they are a more durable option to the toothed V-belts used on our cars..They have more layers of reinforcement., more like the original belts when ordered from Porsche years ago. I looked up the reason for the toothed profile. It causes the belt to run cooler when used on smaller diameter pulleys. Not sure it is an issue in our car's application. The longer 4L profile AC belt was ordered about 10cm longer than the original belt. I ordered it to see if it can be installed without unmounting the compressor.
I'll keep you posted when I put them in service.
Andy
Make it 10mm, not 10 cm.
I mount the belt on the loosely installed compressor and push it in place while tightening it down.
Plus, I have small hands so no need for special tools.
I just changed my belts last week. Following DIY instructions and tips found here and elsewhere. My hands were able to get under the compressor to hold the square nuts so no issue there.
That said with the pesky bolt in the above pic, the one at the top left of the compressor, I actually did not remove the bolt (and therefore the nut). I just loosened it enough that it became a pivot point (with the other 3 bolts removed) by which I could rotate the compressor to loosen the belt enough to remove it and reinstall the new one. This surely saved me a lot of potential grief with that bolt and nut.
It also helped with reinstallation, since to get the compressor back into position and the other bolts back into place I placed a bar between the fan housing and compressor. Then, using the pivot point from the loosened but not removed bolt, I gently pressed the compressor back until the holes for the removed three bolts lined up and I could just slip the bolts through. Once in it was a cinch to line up the square nuts and tighten.
It was an easy job I found as a result.
I use a small magnet, about the size of a watch battery, in the fingertip of my rubber glove--easy to hold the nut with one finger and prevent dropping.
What a brilliant idea, you could do magic tricks to impress the kids. I normally use the magnetic wand, add that to the list of must have tools.
This “Finger magnet” been using for a while. Magic!!
Magnetic Finger Original Finger Magnet Glove - Magnetic Finger Sleeve Holds Any Small Ferrous Metal Object on your Fingertip - Ideal for Tight Spots - Use at Home or on the Job (1 Pack)
So the original belt is 12.5mm x 1085mm. The current Porsche replacement 999 192 363 50 is 13mm x 1085mm. I cannot for the life of me mount this belt, If I remove the compressor to put the belt on, I can't get the bolts in.
I got a Gates 7430 which is 10mm x 1107mm and while this is easy to slip on, there's not enough adjustment range to tighten it up.
Maybe the 12.7mm x 1092mm Dayton is the goldilocks belt.
I find Gorilla tape is good for holding the nut on the tip of my finger. For the back right nut I use a length of tape with the nut stuck to the end and slide the nut in. Wish I'd known about this years ago as I suffer from sausage fingers.
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reinstalling the AC compressor
