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Fri Sep 23, 2022 6:52 am

I have owned the van for about a year, so I'm not sure of the exact age of my alternator Vbelt. It's a Contitech of the correct size, and looks to be in good condition (no conspicuous signs of wear).

I noticed that, while running, it has a wobble when viewed from the side.

I tightened it up to about 15mm deflection (Bentley spec for a used belt), and it's still got the wobble:

From above the alternator pulley, you can see that it's not sitting in the groove evenly:

Does this mean that I didn't tighten enough? Or is it perhaps a bad belt that should be replaced? I was thinking about replacing it and keeping this one as an emergency spare. What's the latest consensus on the best quality Vbelt?

Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:00 am

I had much the same on our '84. I installed the 'lesser' Altn mounting kit from GoWesty, that REALLY stopped the Altn wobble on our engine. We already had the needed 8mm threaded holes for the kit install on our engine, so no need to drill and tap for the 8mm bolts. I think if you have either Power Str, or a later production engine that's drilled for the Power Str Bracket mounting, you already have the 8mm holes threaded, but I could be wrong about that.

Until I installed the GoWesty kit, nothing changed the Altn wobble while running. Belt, I have either NAPA or Contitech, I have been using a slightly shorter belt to get more adjustment life out of the belt compared to stock, I might have the belt sleeve/paper sleeve from NAPA still in the VW as a reference, cause I realized I didn't put it in my Vanagon service notes ....... #-o #-o #-o

Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:11 am

jlrftype7 wrote: I had much the same on our '84. I installed the 'lesser' Altn mounting kit from GoWesty, that REALLY stopped the Altn wobble on our engine
I considered that possibility, but if you look at the overhead video, it's the belt that's not sitting in the groove evenly. I see that the alternator is moving slightly, but I believe that is the entire engine moving.

Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:27 am

brickster wrote: I
It's a Contitech of the correct size, and looks to be in good condition...

brickster wrote: but if you look at the overhead video, it's the belt that's not sitting in the groove evenly.

It seems that the simplest diagnostic test is to replace the belt. 'looks' may be fine for diagnosing cracks or glazing but different dimensions of the belt due to wear won't show up in a visual inspection.

brickster wrote: but I believe that is the entire engine moving.

The entire engine is moving but if the alt. is moving differently due to a flimsy mount they'll be moving but not moving together.

Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:29 am

brickster wrote: jlrftype7 wrote: I had much the same on our '84. I installed the 'lesser' Altn mounting kit from GoWesty, that REALLY stopped the Altn wobble on our engine
I considered that possibility, but if you look at the overhead video, it's the belt that's not sitting in the groove evenly. I see that the alternator is moving slightly, but I believe that is the entire engine moving. From your video, the engine looks pretty solid, and still. The Altn is shaking. Belt in the groove, could be enough worn pulley that you could try a new or better used pulley, but the wobble is often just worn altn mounting since the stock set-up allows for more than VW probably should have put into the design.

Wildthings went DIY with his set-up, brackets made to stop the wobble, plus I seem to remember he swapped over to a GM Altn as well.

I just checked GoWesty's web site, it looks like they've been updating their Bracket Offerings again, I don't think I see the exact version anymore on the website that we have. Anyway, it was the bomb for our issue.
I added a thin/flexible braided ground strap at the lower engine mounting bolt on the bracket, which then ends up on the firewall for a dedicated Altn ground as well while I was in there.

Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:38 am

Thanks, all. I will try a new belt first and keep this one as a spare.

If I go with the upgraded mount, I like the idea of another ground point, jlrftype7.