Well, I got the new alternator in my '89 D250. The thing has a serpentine belt with auto tentioner, and the tentioner is a lot stronger than I am. How do I get the belt back on? Haynes nor Chilton see fit to mention it..

bk

 

I put a 2 ft cheater bar (pipe) over the 3/8" ratchet wrench handle and it makes it alot easier. It is amazing how stiff those tensioners are.

 

Good advise but try to get a friend to help if you can. Only word of caution is make sure your friend will tell you if he's loosing grip or anything is going wrong. Belt on pully with full tention on a finger hurts a lot.

 

I use a 1/2" drive breaker bar. The aftermarket tensioners may have a 1/2" square hole so you won't need the 1/2" to 3/8" reducer. I leave the breaker in the truck all the time just in case.

 

Thanks for the tips, guys. Soon as I found out about the hole, got an old 3/8 ratchet and 18" of 4130 and popped that baby back on.

Anybody know if there is a Gates belt for this application?

bk

 

get a cargo winch strap and a rachet and let the strap hold it while you have two hands free

 

I just use a regular length ratchet wrench and a boxed wrench for leverage.