Hello, I’ve recently installed a new alternator to replace an old alternator. I’m not sure if it’s just crap quality but the new alternator seems to be lower. I’ve tried using the provided stand but it is too low. The belt is so loose on there even with all shims removed. Do I need/ can you get a bigger pulley for the alternator? The one on there is a chrome one. I know they’re not the best but are they different sizes ? It has a diameter of 110mm Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What happens with that setup, almost identical to mine, is that the soft aluminum bottom pulley slowly gets chewed by the fan belt so that the belt sits lower on that pulley. Then the top steel pulley starts to slip too and lose metal from its inner faces. The end result is that one adjustment shim is all it needs or the belt slips, then almost immediately the belt is slipping again. Also in that configuration, the fan is actually being driven as slowly as it can be, as the bottom pulley is smaller diameter and the top one is effectively larger diameter than it should be. Yes its a "power pulley" configuration but somehow I prefer a cooler engine and maybe a bit less power to the wheels. . In the end I just bought a new repro JP brand steel bottom pulley and a new repro Kafer brand top steel pulley. Whatever was on eBay that day.. but boring black painted steel. I kept the chrome nut from the shiny pulley but thats all. Suddenly I can fit a new fan belt and it needs six or seven shims again ! The real biggest faff though was the JP branded bottom pulley had no markings on it whatsoever so I had to find TDC No.1/ TDC No.2 by using the pencil in the spark plug hole trick, and eyeball the woodruff key as 90 degrees to the left on no No.1 or 90 degrees right on No.2
You can sometimes put the alternator in a bit wonky, if the fan housing doesnt go all the way down properly , but if you do the fan tends to rub quite noisily. My money is still on the aluminium pulley having its V groove widened by slipping belts. Its the usual style over substance. The aluminium pulley looks cool.
