Alternator Belts
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1
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From: Orlando
1980 300 SD
Alternator Belts
I have a 1980 300SD that I am trying to replace the alternator on. I got the old one off as well as all of the belts. However, when putting on the new one. I cannot get the alternator to get close enough so that I can slip on the new belt. There is just not enough room. It has frustrated me and I know that they is some crazy way to do it, just because its a mercedes. Do I need to brute force it with a screw driver or am I making a mistake? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: LI, NY
02 W163, 84 W123, 03 E39, 98 E39
Belt Replacement
On my W-123 300D, TD and 240D, there is a 13mm long thin "nut" that threads onto a long (anout 8 inch) screw that adjusts tention on the alternator. Backing off this "nut" usually gave me the looseness I needed to slip the belt(s) on. Depending on your set-up some of my MBs used single belts others used double belts. Once when I used aftermarket belts it was near impossible to get the belts on as they were just too tight. I ended up using a screw driver to help streatch the belt and feed it into the groove as I slid the belt around in the pully grooves.
BTW if you need a pair of alternator belts, it is important that they be a matched pair. They are sold as a pair and come tied together as the manufacurer has chosen belts that are the exact same circumferance, within a certain specification. Otherwise you will not have similar tension on both belts when you try to adjust the tension.
Good Luck.
BTW if you need a pair of alternator belts, it is important that they be a matched pair. They are sold as a pair and come tied together as the manufacurer has chosen belts that are the exact same circumferance, within a certain specification. Otherwise you will not have similar tension on both belts when you try to adjust the tension.
Good Luck.
