Alternator Installation Mistake

[af_1132]

After testing my alternator at Autozone, I went to reinstall it. During installation, I mistakenly tightened the nut for the bolt in the tensioner track before I started tightening the tensioner bolt. I noticed how hard it was to tighten that 10mm bolt. Then my hand slipped and I noticed that the little bracket connecting the two bolts was really bent from my blunder. It is bent to the point that some metal shards from the tensioner bolt are visible from my tightening, so I am stripping the thread somewhat.

As a quick remedy, I loosened a little of the pressure on that little bracket by loosening the tensioner bolt, and really tightened that nut for the bolt on the tensioner track with the belt pretty taught. I have not started the car yet for fear that the belt might go slack if the bolt in the track slips slightly over time.

The question I have for you guys is this: do I need to get a new little bracket and tensioner bolt right away, or am I fine leaving things the way they are until I actually need a new alternator?

I can post pictures if they are needed.

Thank you for your help.

[Raf99]

Pictures would help here. You shouldn't need to tighten bolts to the point of them stripping, etc. But it sounds like you are using the tension bolt to hold things tight?

[af_1132]

Pictures would help here. You shouldn't need to tighten bolts to the point of them stripping, etc. But it sounds like you are using the tension bolt to hold things tight?

I am using the bolt and nut in the rack on the bracket to keep the belt taught now, but the little tension bolt is pretty tight as well, being threaded into the bent bracket and all.

I will get pictures up when I get home after tutoring.

[cb9love]

Don't take my word as right, but i am currently running the alternator without the little tightening bolt, i have been running it like that for over a 1000 miles with no issues. I do check under my hood om a regular basis since this was a full rebuild and it makes me feel better too check everything every day or two.

[af_1132]

Here is a pic showing the little connecting bracket being bent way out of shape. That long slender nut was what I tightened all the way down before I worked on threading in the bolt that you can see in the foreground.

[Stoner51]

I may be missing something but that looks ok to me.

Loosen the top 14mm bolt
And then the 12 mm nut
Then tension with the long bolt to get your belt tight and then tighten the 14 and 12mm Bilt and nut again and your done

Steve

[illinois_erik]

just be glad that the tension adjustment bolt hasnt broke. Mine did while I was at work on my lunch taking care of a squealing belt. touched it and it snapped. I was able to find something that worked at the hardware store nearby.

Anyway the bracket looks fine, if your worried about it, take it off and hammer it flat..its just a buttress to provide the tension off the long bolt I went out to take a pic of mine and yours looks wayy different than mine, yours almost looks rigged up





edit: thinking about it, I vaguely remember the CD5's alternator tensioner looking like that..oh well

[af_1132]

just be glad that the tension adjustment bolt hasnt broke. Mine did while I was at work on my lunch taking care of a squealing belt. touched it and it snapped. I was able to find something that worked at the hardware store nearby.

Anyway the bracket looks fine, if your worried about it, take it off and hammer it flat..its just a buttress to provide the tension off the long bolt I went out to take a pic of mine and yours looks wayy different than mine, yours almost looks rigged up


edit: thinking about it, I vaguely remember the CD5's alternator tensioner looking like that..oh well

Thanks very much for talking pictures. Yeah, my tensioner bolt bracket is reversed compared to yours. I also just realized that the 14mm bolt was also tightened, so that's why the little bracket bent so badly. I didn't allow the alternator to rotate about the 14mm bolt! Woooooow .

Ok, so I will follow your suggestion for hammering it back to it's normal position, and then I will reinstall everything the way Stoner 51 recommended, which is what I should have done in the first place .

[illinois_erik]

Thanks very much for talking pictures. Yeah, my tensioner bolt bracket is reversed compared to yours. I also just realized that the 14mm bolt was also tightened, so that's why the little bracket bent so badly. I didn't allow the alternator to rotate about the 14mm bolt! Woooooow .

Ok, so I will follow your suggestion for hammering it back to it's normal position, and then I will reinstall everything the way Stoner 51 recommended, which is what I should have done in the first place .

No problem, a lot easier to snap a pic then typing a book that may or may not get the point across. As far as the difference too, if you notice the bolt that you lock down after setting the tension has a special head the tension bolt threads into..actually the CD5 is back im gonna look at how its set up......

Nope totally different too. You might want to keep your eyes peeled for a replacement..when the opportunity arises


Anyway Im sure youll get it sorted easily.

[Stoner51]

looks just like mine.

[IMG][/IMG]

steve

[illinois_erik]

weird, maybe mine came from a 94-95... the SE was messed with so much before I got it I dont know whats what

[af_1132]

weird, maybe mine came from a 94-95... the SE was messed with so much before I got it I dont know whats what

Hmm, everything looks the same as ours except the adjusting bolt bracket, the position of the adjusting bolt, the length of the tensioner rack, and the shape of the locknut.

Stoner 51, don't you have a H22A block with a different alternator bracket from your DC Power alternator fab? I'm going to have to get out my '93 Accord Service manual and see what the OEM setup actually is.

[oyajicool]

This is how my 93 LX's tension adjuster looks like.



Comparing it with yours, yeah, yours looks bent a little.
Straight it out. Clean threads with Thread-chaser and you should be good to go.

[Stoner51]

I'm using F22 bracket and an accord alternator. So basically the same as you.

steve

[af_1132]

Comparing it with yours, yeah, yours looks bent a little.
Straight it out. Clean threads with Thread-chaser and you should be good to go.

Thank you sir! Yes, that is the plan.