MC Slide Hammer

Hi.

I'm trying to properly* loosen and remove an alternator belt.

I have a 93 accord EX.

I know about the adjusting nut (10 mm bolt head) and the through bolt (14 mm bolt head), and there's a lock nut (12mm) toward the bottom of the alternator that has to be loosened.

BUT, this nut doesn't loosen. It turns and turns in an unending cycle of resistance and no resistance to turning.

Anyone have any tips for a situation like this?

Thanks.

--

* I removed the alternator belt and put it back on a few weeks ago by "derailing" the belt off the pulley by force. It's not a good thing, but the locknut wasn't coming off then, and I was doing the timing belts and so I had to recourse to it.

poorman212

Have you put a socket/wrench on the "other" end of that bolt/nut?

MC Slide Hammer

Thanks for your reply, poorman212.

You're right, as I turn the locknut (aka "alternator nut") the other side turns.

The problem is that there is no bolt head on the other side!

What's there is a FLAT, completely circular piece of metal, that spins as the alternator nut spins.

Someone's had to have had experience with this sort of thing and knows how to overcome it.

If anyone reading this does, please let me know how I can get that nut off so that I can get the alternator belt off.

Thanks.

MAD_MIKE

A rounded nut or just a threaded piece of steel?
If there is not enough room for pliers/channel locks/vise grips, try to slide something in between the circular piece of metal and the alternator bracket to prevent the circular piece from rotating. Such as a flat head screwdriver head.

MC Slide Hammer

it's not a round nut -- i wish! i can deal with those with bolt-out sockets.

it's just a flat circular piece of metal, the other end of the lower through bolt.

MC Slide Hammer

Bump!

Why would the lower through bolt have no bolt head on it!

It's clear to me it wasn't broken off. This bolt was simply designed to be one of those bolts with a flat top.

But unfortunately that means I can't get the alternator nut off.

Still looking for suggestions.

poorman212

Sorry, was away. Sounds like the flat piece is the "holding" part. If there is no nut on there, tap the bolt-I bet it is loose and will slide right out. That "tab" is so that you really only need one wrench to install/remove the nut without having to hold the other side.