c**ting, f**king alternator belt

[roddy]

Just changed the alternator belt on my R1150GSA, got the right belt from motorworks (595) it was a 594 that came off, which was about 10mm longer ? I suppose due to it stretching over time.

what a c**ting F**king pain in the arse that was, what I learnt later

• This has been the hardest belt I've ever changed, used every trick in the book, in the end brute force won.

• hour an a half with thiking time and a cuppa, to change a belt they're having a laff
• I think I've invented some new swear words

• my wifes knuckles skin quicker than mine (which will probably cost me later on )
• next time fit the 611 belt

now a question, If the 611 belt is 16mm longer and add 10mm for stetching, would there still be enough adjustment to tighten the belt properly even after the initial stretch ?

 

[rudiemoto]

20 MINS TO CHANGE BELT
done 50,00000000000000000000000
1 st you need amate on back wheel in 6th gear with plugs out
then use a small plastic tyre lever and guide the belt on as the mate turns wheel


easy when you have been shown

 

[MattW]

20 MINS TO CHANGE BELT
done 50,00000000000000000000000
1 st you need amate on back wheel in 6th gear with plugs out
then use a small plastic tyre lever and guide the belt on as the mate turns wheel


easy when you have been shown

Yup

I managed on my own by getting the belt to wedge onto the pulley just enough that it held - I then quickly nipped to the back wheel and spun it over (didn't even bother taking the plugs out).

 

[Ash]

i get a nice man called Steptoe to do mine.
a most agreeable chap i must say

 

[roddy]

Yup

I managed on my own by getting the belt to wedge onto the pulley just enough that it held ...........

Thats the bit that was causing the problem, it wouldn't wedge onto the pulley to do that, it would only stay on the pulley if it was held in place, hence having to rope in the good lady to help

 

[t'other dave]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQhfcdQf1QA

How long? Not a gs but sure someone could do this on a gs.

 

[chad]

Just changed the alternator belt on my R1150GSA, got the right belt from motorworks (595) it was a 594 that came off, which was about 10mm longer ? I suppose due to it stretching over time.

what a c**ting F**king pain in the arse that was, what I learnt later

• This has been the hardest belt I've ever changed, used every trick in the book, in the end brute force won.

• hour an a half with thiking time and a cuppa, to change a belt they're having a laff
• I think I've invented some new swear words

• my wifes knuckles skin quicker than mine (which will probably cost me later on )
• next time fit the 611 belt

now a question, If the 611 belt is 16mm longer and add 10mm for stetching, would there still be enough adjustment to tighten the belt properly even after the initial stretch ?

DO NOT USE THIS BELT !! DO RUN THE ENGINE WITH IT ON !!

if its that tight there is a good chance it will missalign the pulley and **** your hall sensor ... be warned

 

[marcopol]

Belt

I know it sounds a bit agricultural but the last time I cahnged the belt I loosened all the bolts, replaced the belt, got a wedge shaped piece of wood (wasn't happy with using a metal lever like a tyre lever directly on the engine and alternator) and tapped it gently between the engine and the alternator until the alternator had risen the required height to get the belt at the right tension. Then secured all the bolts and then gently tapped the wood free.

 

[roddy]

DO NOT USE THIS BELT !! DO RUN THE ENGINE WITH IT ON !!

if its that tight there is a good chance it will missalign the pulley and **** your hall sensor ... be warned

but this belt is the recommended size from a varienty of sites and BMW themselves. and also the first time I've ever read the above statement, so what the above based on ?

I mean it is tight but appears to be at the correct tension assuming the previous one was tensioned correctly as they felt the same, so would the longer 611 belt have enough adjustment left in the mechanism if the belt stretched a bit ?

 

[Snoopy]

Yup

I managed on my own by getting the belt to wedge onto the pulley just enough that it held - I then quickly nipped to the back wheel and spun it over (didn't even bother taking the plugs out).

Yup that's how I did mine. Took 10 minutes.

 

[davegs]

belts

There are two sizes available Iknow cos my local friendly? bmw dealer sold me ne that was bit too short!, guess you have the same prob they should not be that difficult take it off and go and see the dealer or send it or pm steptoe who'll put ypu right. I found out the ha5rd way obny brought mine to take as a spare and tried it to make sure it fitted.
Dve gs

 

[hank]

I know it sounds a bit agricultural but the last time I cahnged the belt I loosened all the bolts, replaced the belt, got a wedge shaped piece of wood (wasn't happy with using a metal lever like a tyre lever directly on the engine and alternator) and tapped it gently between the engine and the alternator until the alternator had risen the required height to get the belt at the right tension. Then secured all the bolts and then gently tapped the wood free.

I thought I was the only one daft enough to use spanners to loosen the bolts when changing the belt.

 

[sockpuppet]

AFAIK the 594 is the newer belt which is also the so called maintenance free one

 

[chad]

but this belt is the recommended size from a varienty of sites and BMW themselves. and also the first time I've ever read the above statement, so what the above based on ?

I mean it is tight but appears to be at the correct tension assuming the previous one was tensioned correctly as they felt the same, so would the longer 611 belt have enough adjustment left in the mechanism if the belt stretched a bit ?

Based on experience. I was given the shorter belt by a supplier who insisted it was correct and me being a stubborn twat won the war to get it on
I think the difference in belts is between the gs and GSA as the fuel balance pipe runs under the alternator on the GSA so it needs the longer belt

 

[Steptoe]

Lots of misinformation in this thread..............

 

[Stewart H]

I thought I was the only one daft enough to use spanners to loosen the bolts when changing the belt.

No I am guilty of that too, its a tiny belt that goes around two pulleys, I dont see the problem, the one on my car is getting on for two metres long and goes around half a dozen pulleys like a madmans shyte, now that one can be a bugger.
Stewart

 

[chad]

Lots of misinformation in this thread..............

Aye

My ham fisted way of learning is ****in expensive too

Still it teachs you to only do it once

 

[roddy]

Based on experience. I was given the shorter belt by a supplier who insisted it was correct and me being a stubborn twat won the war to get it on
I think the difference in belts is between the gs and GSA as the fuel balance pipe runs under the alternator on the GSA so it needs the longer belt

I thought both GS and GSA had the fuel balance pipe ? either way I'm sure mine runs behind the alternator, and I find it hard to think a tight belt will pull the lower pulley out align as this pulley is connected to the crank is it not ?

Lots of misinformation in this thread..............

could you elaborate please on what bits are the misinformation


an in 16 replys nobody actually answered the question asked

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

madman's shyte - roflmao.....never saw that description of serpentine belt b4!!

 

[DrFarkoff]

Simples there are 3 x 13 mm nuts / bolts

Slacken them drop the alternator down and remove belt

Earlier 1100's will need to undo the oil pipe to change the belt

Fit new belt Use an M8 Wee doofer that I made on the left lower bolt and rotate the tool

The alternator now lifts up and Belt can be tensioned!

Tighten two other nuts Remove tool and tighten that nut

Check Belt Tension and Replace front cover!

Sorted

Steppers may disagree but 610 PK4 belt does the bikes okay and Lets face it a hell of a lot cheaper than a BMW one! So ya can change it more often for practice