FTO AUSTRALIA

Hi guys,

I can't seem to be able to remove my alternator belt due to the tensioner bolt being too tight and being unable to loosen it.

I can undo the bolt that you undo vertically, as shown here:



But the one on the pulley itself doesn't seem to budge at all:



Stuart and myself tried spraying it with WD-40 and using an extension for better force but it didn't seem to work, and came to the point where it looked like the bolt was going to thread.

Any ideas on how to remove it?

Thanks

You can take the engine mount bolt off and jack the engine up to clear the chassis rail to fit a good socket and wrench on it.

Or buy some flexi ratchet contraption with a shallow socket.

I've also bent a ring spanner in a vice to make it curvy as well, also I've cut a spanner down so its about 5cm long and gave it a bash with a hammer to crack it.

You need a stubby stocket set/shallow socket set
or a 6 point 12mm spanner with a bend in it to get it onto the bolt.. not a straight spanner, I don't know the proper name
and yeah don't strip it.. or you're fucked

I jam a big ass crow bar behind the socket & lever the whole assembly in while trying to crack it.

Alternatively I have a 14mm socket with 2 flats ground onto either side of it, again using the crowbar to force it against the nut, then use a big ass shifter on the socket to crack it.

Short series socket set.
Remember how fkn easy it was when you snapped yours in Vic Point?

Anyone had any experience with turbo sockets for rounded bolt removal?

If you are prepared to wreck a socket extension, you can just use a normal socket . Cut the extension with an angle grinder and grind so itll take a normal open ended 10mm spanner. Works a treat.

Maybe I should do a guide on making the tool

Or just take one bolt out and jack the engine up lol

Hmm looks like a short socket set might be the answer (I don't think I'd be able to weld my own tools haha).

Could someone please link to the exact one I'd need?

Cheers

Why do I read this now, when i'm about to do this.... haha

It was the last thing we expected as well haha. Had the whole intake plenum off and 3/4 of the process done only to realise we couldn't get the alternator belt off :\ I'd suggest taking that off first as it's the only part which should give you issues like this.

Everyone is telling you different tools to get access onto the nut.....in the pic it looks as though you can already get your socket + ratchet onto the nut.

Whichever tool you use you will still have to use force to crack the nut, a single hex socket (ie 6 sided, six point) will stop you from stripping the nut. Then just add a longer bar/pipe to your socket/ratchet and use some force.

If you still can't crack it then do as silverGPX has suggested and undo the engine mount, jack up the engine, screw on another nut until it touches the stuck nut and hit it face on with a hammer, this shock might make it easier to crack.

All else fails you might even have to heat up the nut with a blow torch or oxy torch.

Good luck.

In saying all that I get to mine with one of these long series 0deg offset ring spanners....

PHIL069 wrote:in the pic it looks as though you can already get your socket + ratchet onto the nut.

The picture wasn't taken by me, it was from a DIY guide. Thanks, might try a standard hex spanner with an extension and see if I can move it from there.

Just a note, My mechanic did it today, he said he broke a wrench attempting to crack the nut...
That was after he removed the engine mount, and jacked it up....

It cost me half an hour, so about $35

Sahin could have cracked it with his fingers.

Nah I just pull the belt up and off the pulley without undoing the tensioner

Anyone know how to remove the bolt if its pretty much rounded? Doesn't seem to budge and starts rounding when we're trying to undo it...

-Nighthawk- wrote:Anyone know how to remove the bolt if its pretty much rounded? Doesn't seem to budge and starts rounding when we're trying to undo it...

Can try and get a smaller socket on there although It's kinda hard without having any space to use a hammer to knock it on.