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MG MGA - mga fan belt adjustment question

Hi All,

I'm far away from home with a slipping fan belt on my 57 1500, without tools. Can I tighten it by justloosening and tightening the generator bolts and the one that fastens it to the adjustment bracket? Do I have to remove the fan or radiator? Do I need anything other than a 3/8 socket with extension and wrench?

Thanks in advance

B. Papazian

If you don't have tools you can try a trick we used to use many years ago and find some chalk. If you dust the fan belt with chalk or the better halfs talcum powder then it may cure the problem whilst you return home.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Tighten it as you describe. No need to remove anything.

Steve
Steve Gyles

BP, if you can borrow tools you need a pair of 1/2" AF ring or open end spanners to loosen the two dynamo holding bolts, and a 9/16" ring spanner to loosen the sliding bracket underneath the front of the dynamo where it attaches to the block. This one is a pig to get at as the fan belt and fan blades get in the way. A 9/16" socket and very short extension (as found in 'baby' socket sets) is sometimes easier. Pull the dynamo away from the block to tighten the belt and tighten the bolts while it is held in this position.
Lindsay Sampford

BP - The fan belt should be quite loose on a car with a generator. Running it tight will cause accelerated wear on the rear bushing of the generator. See the article, Keep Your Belts Loose in the Other Tech Articles section of my web site at: http://homepages.donobi.net/sufuelpumps/ Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

BP,
You may have to slacken the bracket pivot bolt as well as the sliding bolt on the bracket - it is an odd size (Whitworth?) but a 14mm socket will fit it.
The belt should flex about 1/2" on its longest section between the pulleys, once you ahve tightened it.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

I agree with Peter Tilbury. 1/2" play on the 'lower side' and that in turn makes the top section very tight.
D Quinn

This thread was discussed between 31/07/2011 and 01/08/2011

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