WARNING alternator mounting nuts and bolts.

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior

Post Reply
User avatar
Northern Bongolow
Supreme Being
Posts: 7722
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:33 pm
Location: AKA Vanessa

WARNING alternator mounting nuts and bolts.

Post by Northern Bongolow » Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:53 pm

bit of a story but its worth it.

returning from work the other night at 04.00.
loud screaching noise-----------------checked all the gauges and instruments, volt meter showing 14 volts, 8) (belts on) . resister modded temp gauge fine, extra temp gauge fine, heater circuit gauge slightly up a few degrees, and coolant pressure slightly up :shock: .
the screeching wasnt the standard screech assosiated with slack belts when applying the throttle, it was loud when off the throttle #-o , thinking water pump bearing, or alternator seizing, low coolant and high coolant alarm ok.
drove the 10 miles home and will check in the morning.

in the morning found the 2 alternator belts slack #-o #-o #-o . only checked 2 weeks ago so a bit of a puzzle what has happened.

now to the crux of this. the bottom alternator mount was present but the top one had fallen apart, the long tensioning bolt had somehow unscrewed itself and dropped into the lower soundproof tray, the pinch nut and bolt that passes through the slider was still present but slightly loose so the tension on the belts was lost.
when this was removed and examined it was found that this nut is a special nut, it is a lock nut, when this nut is repeatedly removed and tightened it damages the thread on the bolt that goes through the slider effectivly stripping the threads off the bolt. the nut is described as an aircraft type lock nut i think, so when a new alternator is fitted, or belts adjusted, this part must be checked carefully for damage or like mine it wont nip up correctly and may cost you your cylinder head when you loose waterpump effect.
either replace the bolt that goes through the slider or cheat like i did and cut off the damaged thread and weld on a new threaded piece to ensure it nips up very tight.

aint bongo ownership good [-o< :wink:
User avatar
helen&tony
Supreme Being
Posts: 9869
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 12:49 pm
Location: Bulgaria

Re: WARNING alternator mouting nuts and bolts.

Post by helen&tony » Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:46 pm

Hi
Ad...
would that be an ovalised nut?....i hate the darned things...i like castellated nuts'n' split pins,like the good ol' days...but i've never seen one on an alternator...only taper-nuts..., OR, groove the bolts, use a soft nut and stake the blighter
GGGGgrrrr
Glad it wasn't a cat's apostrophe
Cheers
Helen
In the beginning there was nothing , then God said "Let there be Light".....There was still nothing , but ,by crikey, you could see it better.
User avatar
Northern Bongolow
Supreme Being
Posts: 7722
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:33 pm
Location: AKA Vanessa

Re: WARNING alternator mounting nuts and bolts.

Post by Northern Bongolow » Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:44 am

its a standard looking nut with flange to make a washer from the outside, but when removed its got a hardened insert which has 3 spaced tabs (teeth) that protrude into the threaded area, so when its tightened it distorts the threads on the bolt.
ive got some pics and will try to get them on here, but someone called terapixels has naffed my laptop so my phone wont talk to it :cry: .
User avatar
helen&tony
Supreme Being
Posts: 9869
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 12:49 pm
Location: Bulgaria

Re: WARNING alternator mounting nuts and bolts.

Post by helen&tony » Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:30 am

Hi
Ady...
Can't remember looking at it when I took the alternator off (a few times now)....
Regarding the ovalised nuts...I think the original droplinks have them.....GGGgrrrr....No likey much...I like wired nuts on suspension
Cheers
Helen
In the beginning there was nothing , then God said "Let there be Light".....There was still nothing , but ,by crikey, you could see it better.
Post Reply

Return to “Techie Stuff”