Advice needed for tensioning van alternator belt

[Cubey]

I will be replacing my 85 E350's vacuum pump in the next day or two. Naturally, the alternator will be coming out. I did the pump on my 87 F250 a couple years ago, so I know what to expect.

However, trying to tension the alternator afterwards is going to be much harder. The belt is already super floppy vs my truck. On the truck, I use a long tire iron to pull the alternator toward the fender, then tighten the bolt. I can't do that in the same way with the van.

Any tips for van specific pulling of the alternator toward the fender?

 

[chris142]

Some sort of jack screw and push it out?

 

[riphip]

Use this belt & will be easier to tension with less effort:
ALT: 17425......Short belt from ALT to WP only (13A1080)...Eliminates vibration that long belt develops (not a Gold)

 

[renjaminfrankln]

Use this belt & will be easier to tension with less effort:
ALT: 17425......Short belt from ALT to WP only (13A1080)...Eliminates vibration that long belt develops (not a Gold)

Does that work on the Trucks as well?

I have the long belt. It makes me nervous watching that thing flop all around. Its a new belt, nice and tight.

 

[Cubey]

Does that work on the Trucks as well?

I have the long belt. It makes me nervous watching that thing flop all around. Its a new belt, nice and tight.

My truck's flops but I have never thrown the belt in 2 years of owning the truck. I just inspect it now and then. If in doubt, I loosen the alternator, use the big tire iron and retighten it.

The van's is way looser currently but survived 300 miles from where I bought it.

I check it on the upper most part between the alternator and water pump by just pushing downward on it with my finger.

 

[gandalf]

I too was concerned about throwing that long belt on my 7.3 engine. I could get the belt drumhead tight, and it would still flop terribly when the engine ran. There was no way I could stop it flopping. I took my concerns to Calvin. He said that he had found one belt, and one belt only, which he had never thrown on any of his trucks.

He told me to order This Belt. I now have this type belt for three out of the four belts. It still flops around, but I have faith in what Calvin told me.

 

[compressionignitionrules]

how far down into the pulley is your new belt? if it isn't sticking out of the pulley a little your pulley may be worn down and no matter how much you tighten that belt it will flop.
sorry to throw another variable at you but its one most people overlook since serp belts have basically taken over.

 

[riphip]

Does that work on the Trucks as well?

I have the long belt. It makes me nervous watching that thing flop all around. Its a new belt, nice and tight.

Works on all the same. You don't have to make an idler pulley if you use this length.

I tried an idler before until I found out about this length belt. Removed idler, went with this belt & never looked back.
on all 3 of my trucks

 

[chris142]

I dont think you have it tight enough if its flopping around. The 1/2 of play does not apply with a long belt run.

 

[laserjock]

Does that work on the Trucks as well?

I have the long belt. It makes me nervous watching that thing flop all around. Its a new belt, nice and tight.

I run the short belt on my truck.