387. Alternator Belt Re-tensioning

My engine was sounding a bit rough and on checking, I found one of the two alternator belts was loose. Please take a look, as I tighten my belt and see what I find, unexpectedly!
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[@grahamconnor3438]

Hi Alan, excellent problem solving. I'm pleased you were able to sort it out yourself. I'm looking forward to your next video. Graham and Tim 🙂🐕

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Many thanks Graham, kind of you to say. I hope you and Tim are keeping well🤠

[@gingermolinero8386]

Alan always good to see you. With Spring just around the corner wishing you good health and safe travels

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Thank you so much Ginger, we’ve had some lovely weather the last few days, so hope to get out on the boat soon. All the best.

[@neilmurfet3392]

In this day and age, we all have to tighten our belts.....All the best, Tricia and Neil........

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

My belt's getting tight for the wrong reasons though, I need to lose some baggage. Cheers, thanks for watching.

[@stevehoare6378]

Evening Alan, a job well done! And I'm sure a satisfying sense of achievement knowing that you did a very tricky and awkward job yourself. I hope that you have inspired others to have a go themselves. Many thanks for sharing..🍷🍷

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Evening Steve, thank you. It is annoying though that I couldn’t get to tighten the bottom nut and bolt. All the best 🥂

[@umbertoyltp]

Well done, Alan! From what I understand, the two lower bolts mainly function as a hinge, the top bolt is for adjusting and keeping tension on the belt. Extreme overtension could damage the ball bearings in the generator, but I am sure you have the sensitivity to avoid that.😂❤

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Many thanks. I think that's very true, it is the top bolt that really tensions the belt. I can assure you there's no fear of me overtightening, much more likely to be not tight enough. Cheers

[@bobt3374]

Hi Alan. That was a tight job with the bottom nut but glad you got the noise quietened down. Take care to you & Sally & Reggie.

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Hi Bob. It certainly was but I got it sorted as best I could, not ideal though. Best wishes from all of us.

[@castingshadows282]

Love it when you get down and dirty and go in blind. 🤣 Makes the whole experience exciting to hear you fumble. Great job Alan. 🖖Well done you.

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

So do I, makes it more interesting, thank you again for watching and commenting. All the best 🤠

[@hughcarson6837]

Good to see you had some success, well done Alan

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Many thanks Hugh, cheers.

[@StevesRepairs]

Thanks Alan, it looks and sounds like you have solved the problem. Take care and all the best. Stevie

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Thanks Stevie, I certainly hope so. Best wishes, take care.

[@paulturner7837]

Well done Alan, these things are always difficult to reach. That really made a huge difference to the sound of the engine.

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Thank you Paul, it’s changing the belts that’s really awkward, I must remember that and check the tension more frequently.

[@martinworrall5888]

Well done Alan 👍

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Many thanks Martin.

[@bogusjobseeker8189]

Always Great vlogs Alan, maybe you could take Sally around the villages near Yelvertoft and beyond,thank again.

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Thank you so much, we actually had a drive round some small villages a few weeks back but weren’t filming.

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good see ge boat done to crank it soon thanks lee

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Many thanks Lee, all the best.

[@andrewcarmichael8683]

Use a mirror, it helps a lot. You can buy one specifically for poking around engines, or pop out one of the vanity mirrors out of the van. Some disassembly may be required to take odd the little door to get it out of the way. That is what I've been using on my car.

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Hi Andrew, thanks for the suggestion. I have an assortment of mirrors that I use, of different shapes and sizes but they won’t help tighten the bolt, as I can’t get access to it, that’s the problem.

[@Dyfhi]

Nice 1 Alan…

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Many thanks 👍

[@TheCrimsonAvenger]

What engine do you have in the boat ? My narrowboat had a Vetus engine that a boatyard described as " over engineered , over complicated and over to you if it goes wrong " .

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

That’s a good way of putting it. I have a Barrus Shire 35. The alternator has been changed at some point in the boat’s life, I don’t know when.

[@martin4787]

You can't leave any bolts loose, because it will wear the alternator mounting bracket and also the alternator. You have to tighten it and normally that hole on the alternator isn't threaded, unless the alternator front housing has been turned to convert the alternator from left to right hand fitting, or visa versa. I'm a mechanic with over 50 years experience and that's why I know this.

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

I agree that ideally all bolts should be tightened. Whilst I can just about reach the head of the bolt, it’s impossible for me to get a spanner on the nut, so I cannot tighten it. I travel at about 2.5 mph on water, so the engine is not subject to the rigours of a vehicle on the road. There’s nothing I can do to change that.

[@martin4787]

@@MyNarrowboatVentureHonestly you have to find a way to tighten it or get somebody else who can tighten it. Otherwise your problem will get much worse and a lot more expensive, making the boat less reliable and they always break at the most inopportune moment.

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

@@martin4787If I can’t get to it, no one else will. The other thing I have to consider is, if I wanted to change the belt I wouldn’t be able to, if that bolt had been tightened. It’s not ideal but it must have been like it for many years.

[@martin4787]

@@MyNarrowboatVenture 'It’s not ideal but it must have been like it for many years', which is the reason it's more likely to fail, but, at the end of the day, it's your decision. I can only give you my professional opinion. The other thing to consider, is as the bolt, alternator bracket and housing wear, will increase the run out of the belt to the point where the rear alternator bracket will crack and fail. 🙂

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

@@martin4787 Do you feel you've made enough allowance for the fact, this is a marinised engine on a boat that travels at about 2.5mph on calm water and gets limited use.

[@ThePaprotta]

In time are rubber was harder and harder. In same as tiers.

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

The belts aren’t that old and the boat isn’t used regularly, so they still have life in them.

[@ThePaprotta]

Hi, sorry but i think that is so simple. You need a good belt spray.

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Belt spray will stop squeaking but it can’t retention the belt, which was looser than it should have been.