Community Forums

Skip426 · 04-21-2018, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monacoach

I assume the alternator pulley should turn freely by hand?

YES ,

EDIT: and thanks to my slow typing ... Steve already posted this info.

Monacoach · 04-21-2018, 06:54 PM

Thanks for the confirmation guys. I made a mistake bringing the coach home from our seasonal site which is only a one hour drive. If I could get it back to the seasonal site I would park it and never drive it again. But unfortunately the belt runs the water pump so I will have to tow it to a garage for repair AGAIN.

Skip426 · 04-21-2018, 06:56 PM

Mobile mechanic might be cheaper than a tow .

Monacoach · 04-21-2018, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

Mobile mechanic might be cheaper than a tow .

I have good sam for the tow but I definitely like and prefer your idea of a mobile mechanic.
If I can find one.

Skip426 · 04-21-2018, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monacoach

I have good sam for the tow but I definitely like and prefer your idea of a mobile mechanic.
If I can find one.

Good Sam may have one on file in your area , and they would send him to you, and pay for his travel to your location , you'd have to pay his on site time and return.
Just went through this .

EDIT: It would speed things up if you could contact the mobile mechanic through Good Sam and provide him with alternator info , so he could bring one with him.

Dark Sky · 04-21-2018, 07:18 PM

Quite possibly the time you ran with the undersized belt did in the alternator bearings. I like the recommendation to replace the tensioner pulley as part of this repair. Then keep fingers crossed that the a/c compressor is okay.

Monacoach · 04-21-2018, 07:24 PM

I will call good sam to inquire about the mobile mechanic for sure. Yes I thought maybe running with a tight belt might cause problems. The alternator was replaced once and for the life of me I don't know how they did it. Its so hard to access.

Monacoach · 04-21-2018, 07:28 PM

I was thinking that to get the coach the one hour trip to our seasonal site that I might put a shorter serpentine belt on bi passing the alternator. problem would be trying to get the right size. This idea would save me from a tow or very costly service call but not sure I can pull it off.

BigLar368 · 04-22-2018, 03:59 AM

Our alt. on our RV was perfectly fine just a couple of weeks ago. I told my wife I was swapping it out with a new one and she could not understand why I would change it out if there was nothing wrong with it. I intend to carry the old one as a spare and this is exactly why so I will not be at the mercy of an out of town shop or a tow bill. Doing the same with the starter and few other small items. Best of luck to the OP.

Monacoach · 04-22-2018, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigLar368

Our alt. on our RV was perfectly fine just a couple of weeks ago. I told my wife I was swapping it out with a new one and she could not understand why I would change it out if there was nothing wrong with it. I intend to carry the old one as a spare and this is exactly why so I will not be at the mercy of an out of town shop or a tow bill. Doing the same with the starter and few other sm items. Best of luck to the OP.

That is good insurance and I was going to grab a spare serpentine belt but they are not stocked anywhere near by and I didnt get around to ordering one

and heres my update which re enforces your idea of carrying spare parts to be a good one.
With some wd40 and a rachet I unseized the alternator. It spins freely now so im thinking I can put a new serpentine belt on and hopefully make it to our permanent spot ( 1 hour drive).
im not concerned if the alternator actually works but that would be a bonus, just spinning freely and not eating belts would be great.

Monacoach · 04-22-2018, 09:17 AM

does anyone know which direction the crankshaft spins say standing at the back of the motorhome facing the engine........clockwise? counterclockwise? Standing behind a pusher.

wa8yxm · 04-23-2018, 07:41 AM

Ribbed belt smooth tensioner should not make it fail.

Too tight means the belt is under too much stress and that will kill it.'"
Smooth belt on a ribbed pulley.. Not sure.

RKins · 04-24-2018, 01:06 PM

If you put a new tensioner on make sure the plate that you mount it to has no rust on it. I didn't clean mine and there was just enough tilt in the alignment that it caused the belt to be pulled toward the engine, where it was sliced off. I had all kinds of black "spaghetti" coming out of the engine hood on my coach, and of course it was Memorial Day weekend.
Long story short - I ground down the plate, painted it and remounted the new tensioner and haven't had a problem since.

Monacoach · 04-27-2018, 06:20 PM

Thanks for that advice. One thing is for sure although I did install the new surpentine belt today, changing the tensioner and alternator are beyond my reach. I have a spare belt so wont need a tow truck the next time it rips off.

ok so like I said the alternator pulley seized up while sitting for months but with some wd 40 and elbow grease I got it spinning. I installed the belt today and started the coach but of course the alt light on dash is illuminated along with a chime and the charge guage reads below 12 volts.

I presume the alternator is toast so in the morning I will start our short journey of 70 miles with the generator running and doing the job of the alternator.