hi there. sorry about the seperate post. didnt know if people would look at my previous any more.

i think i have smoothed the nut for the idler pulley.

am i goosed or will the alternator still come off when i loosen its bolts.

If i remove the generator bracket from under the alternator and the top alternator bolt will i be able to slip the belt off and remove the alternator??

thanks very much.

maybe i should ve left it to the professionals

_________________
THIS IS MY 4. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE THIS ONE, BUT THIS IS MINE.
red st185, running 10 psi all gears, powerflow cat back, and air filter. oh and fab scoop splitters

I think you need to remove the idler pulley in order to gain access to the lower alternator bolt?

I'd remove the tensioning pulley - if it's round then you may have to file some flats on it and remove with a different size spanner?

_________________
Kris
95 ST205 - slept for 10 years, now waking up...
Avensis
http://www.gtfours.co.uk
_______________________________________
Turbocharging - the replacement for displacement

iirc the lower alternater bolt threads in from the oil filter side of things on the 185, so it could be possible, but as the alt' is under strain you may run the risk of stripping some threads out.

the naughty way to do it, would be to rotate the engine and wind the alt belt off the alt pulley or idler pulley with a screwdriver or bar.

this would allow you to remove the alt and then poss remove the idler pulley bracket and tackle the rounded off nut on a bench

works in theory in my head sundays are a very hazy day for me, after saturdays beverages

_________________
Pete
ST185
Basingstoke

this is what i was thinking of doing would i then have to get a new belt?
how doo irotate the engine??


but that is an ingenious simple idea with the nut kris thanks. didnt even contemplate it.

_________________
THIS IS MY 4. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE THIS ONE, BUT THIS IS MINE.
red st185, running 10 psi all gears, powerflow cat back, and air filter. oh and fab scoop splitters

doesn't matter which way you rotate the engine.

i would personally rotate clock wise as with the crank pulley as that is the normal rotation of the engine.

i prefer not to turn the engine against the cambelts normal rotation as in theory you would be pushing the cams round with the belt when they should be pulled.

so clock wise i would turn it.. this is a bit dodgey on the alt belt as it could split.

_________________
1990 JDM ST185 Grey.
ST205 head gasket.
ARP head bolts.
ST205 Koyo Rad. (almost)
Front mount intercooler.
Colder plugs.
3" decat pipe.
4 Branch manifold.
Nitrous Oxide Steroids for Cars!

And also the oil pump will be sucking oil rather than pushing it out

_________________
Kris
95 ST205 - slept for 10 years, now waking up...
Avensis
http://www.gtfours.co.uk
_______________________________________
Turbocharging - the replacement for displacement

hi all,
GOD ITS LIKE STRUGGLING WITH A BOLT A DAY.
i have cut the drive belt off. will buy one after.
i will remove the alternator then tackle the pulley and bolt. somehow.

on the alternator is there two bolts the big one on top where the alternator can pivot.
and
is ther one underneath the alternator with the nut on the engine side of the alt not the drive belt side?

i am struggling to get the generator bracket bolt off, the one attached to the engine.

dont want to be a bad workman but my tools are poop.
i have had to borrow some from work.

if i do this though i will major pat myself on the back.

_________________
THIS IS MY 4. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE THIS ONE, BUT THIS IS MINE.
red st185, running 10 psi all gears, powerflow cat back, and air filter. oh and fab scoop splitters

If you get stuck I have a spare

Am not familiar with the 185 but on the 205 the bottom of the alternator is bolted - bolt head behind the tensioner pulley.

I think you will struggle to remove the bracket with the alternator still attached. I would recommend removing the upper and lower bolts and the removing the alternator


Any job undertaken on a GT-Four is to be applauded! Don't think I have found an easy job yet!

_________________
Kris
95 ST205 - slept for 10 years, now waking up...
Avensis
http://www.gtfours.co.uk
_______________________________________
Turbocharging - the replacement for displacement

IIRC the ST185 lower bolt head for teh alternator is on teh turbo side of the alternator. Thsi is different to the st205

_________________
JP
GT4DC Treasurer

Grey St185 RC
Silver BMW E46 M3
Multicolour yawn Honda VFR400
Silver Honda Civic Type-R

can't really remember off the top of my head but you may have to remove the heatsheild part off the back of the alt to gain access to the lower bolt, 8mm nuts iirc

_________________
Pete
ST185
Basingstoke

a Question when i have to replace the alt and belt would i get away with not removing the pulley by putting the belt on round the alt and then attaching the alt and try to stretch the belt over?

thanks for your help. a pic would say a thousand words, i need to get some on.

right......
i can get access to the generator bracket bolts and think these need to be reomoved before i can access the bolt under the alternator.


KRIS you have PM.
going to try and have a go this avo. but it is so windy, i may get squished by my bonnet.
i will come in if i have probs.
it is accessing the bolts that are the problem.
are all the bolt easily replaceable???
i am thinking if i can cut the head off the idler pulley bolt and replace it????

thanks all for you helpful advice.

_________________
THIS IS MY 4. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE THIS ONE, BUT THIS IS MINE.
red st185, running 10 psi all gears, powerflow cat back, and air filter. oh and fab scoop splitters

it's not a normal run the mill bolt throught the idler, it's got a threaded hole on the other side for the adjuster bolt, you will need to get another from a breakers or from mr T........if your good with a grinder/dremel etc you may be able to just hack the nut off and replace it



you could be naughty and re-fit the belt in this manor (opposite to how i described removing the belt), but if it needs adjusting your gonna be right back to square one again.....in the long run it would be easiest to deal with it now imo


when you say generator are you refering to the alt? or something else? as i'm confused with regards to generator bracket bolts? hard to visulize what bolts your referring to exactly

_________________
Pete
ST185
Basingstoke

yeah i have got it off and dopped it at the alternator shop.
£45 not three bad.

in the workshop manual it calls it the generator.
the bracket is under the alternator/generator about 5 " long one end is directly under the alternator and the other joins next to the dipstick and o2 sensor (correct me if i am wrong, the long thing with a bolt either side).

thanks for allyou help. i have had to buy my new belt. from main stealer £46 inc vat. I guess it is a learning curve. an expensive curve at that.

thanks guys, i might see about grabbing a scrap idler pulley.
having said that there is another bolt a bit lower and this looks like the mounting brack et for the pulley AND i can get a spanner in there. maybe i could take that off and work on the nut?

thanks once again...

_________________
THIS IS MY 4. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE THIS ONE, BUT THIS IS MINE.
red st185, running 10 psi all gears, powerflow cat back, and air filter. oh and fab scoop splitters

is the drive belt a main stealer only part?
ta.

_________________
THIS IS MY 4. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE THIS ONE, BUT THIS IS MINE.
red st185, running 10 psi all gears, powerflow cat back, and air filter. oh and fab scoop splitters

not at all, halfrauds and the likes will sell them...............£46 sounds wrong to me, i'll cross check the price when i'm at work tomorrow if you like.

fitted with a/con ye?

_________________
Pete
ST185
Basingstoke