New tool for old alternators

[charger1972]

Came across this on Facebook.    http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2013/12/new-tool-for-old-alternators-starter-repair    made it into allpar.com , pretty cool.

[A383Wing]

someone here on this forum was making these I think...

[charger1972]

Yeah, resq302. That article is about him making ,and improving on the factory tool.

[ws23rt]

I've had from time to time found a need to load the alternator to the belt.
What I do is to pull the alternator back with one hand and tighten the holding bolt with the other.  Am I missing something after all these years?

[A383Wing]

that's how I do it as well, but there are some vehicles that you gotta have the correct tool

[ws23rt]

I can still learn new stuff

[1974dodgecharger]

I use my left hand to pull the alternator with belt on and right hand to tighten the bolt down.  I think this puller it helps you pull 'hard' than normal with the hand.  I can see it can be cumbersome to hold the alternator with one hand to pull it.

Its kinda like the gas tank wrench not many people knew about the gas tank wrench until I mentioned one day on the forum it really helped me take off the sending unit and put back on with ease.

[71charger_fan]

I've got a tool that looks just like that I bought over 30 years ago. I've almost never used it. Most of the time, I've found it quicker and easier to use a pry bar.

[resq302]

Yup, that is the tool that I have manufactured.    Allpar took me completely by surprise with the write up they did on it.  Great bunch of guys/gals and they also have a nice, laid back show in the fall.  

Just ask Moparjohn how we pinched his heater hose on his sunroof charger in the rush to get it back together, using a prybar, during a rain storm when his alternator stud loosened up and made some serious problems with wiring.  Mind you this all happened on a Dodge Charger Registry event where he drove over 3 hrs too!  If we had this tool at that point, I wouldn't have ended up pinching the heater hose.  To make matters worse, his car has a/c so that just added more to the engine compartment. 

To be honest, I wouldn't trust using the arm/hand method to tighten up the belt.  Especially with a new belt, it might not be tight enough and could throw a belt and trust me, I had that happen once and got stranded.  Not a fun thing and not to mention the havoc it could cause with your fan blades, and everything else in the engine compartment!

[RallyeMike]

There are tools you need, tools that are nice to have, and tools that you start buying when you already have everything that is practically needed. I put this one in that last category. It would take me longer to remember where the heck I put the tool than to adjust it by hand.

[resq302]

See, I just do the opposite. I keep this tool with me at all times in the emergency tool kit inside the trunk.  Actually, any tool that might help an emergency repair I try to keep with me.  Especially stuff that I can't find that easily say at either a Lowes or an auto parts store.  Again, if people want the tool, I have it.  For those that do not want it, no harm done.   

[tan top]

 clever   

[Pete in NH]

I bought one of the original Miller Special Tool alternator tools back when my 71 was brand new. It makes getting the proper tension on the belts a snap when used with a torque wrench and consulting the factory service manual for the proper torque value. Getting the belt tension just right on an AC car keeps things a lot quieter. This tool is indeed a handy one to have.

[resq302]

 

[Nacho-RT74]

I have been searching this tool for years on ebay... in fact I think posted on WANTED SECTION here looong time ago. My FSM is not with me right now to check the original PN for the original tool.

Count me on one for me pretty soon.

but wondering... why the curved shape doesn't meet the alternator contour ? I never have seen the original tool personally to check if also gets the gap like the one you built

just curiosity

[resq302]

The original tool that I had purchased from my friend who was also a mechanic had an even larger gap.  I can try and post a pic of that and do a side by side comparison if you'd like.

[A383Wing]

it should not touch the side of alternator because if it did, it might possibly "dent" the side and then cause a rubbing problem inside

[resq302]

I think it would really take a lot of pressure to dent the casing as the windings are behind it.

[Nacho-RT74]

The original tool that I had purchased from my friend who was also a mechanic had an even larger gap.  I can try and post a pic of that and do a side by side comparison if you'd like.

[resq302]

Nacho, here are some comparison pics of the original tool that I purchased from a mechanic that I used to work with and the brighter one that I am currently making.  Keep in mind, I took a picture of the raw metal piece without the rubber channel and the dipped/finished product to give a better direct comparison.

  top piece is the one I am currently making.  Bottom is the original FSM piece.

  placed on top of each other to show the difference in the curvature.

  original FSM tool showing how it hooks into the alternator.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Interesting!

[1974dodgecharger]

It made a better hook.....I think I might ne3ed this to get tye tightest fit I can.

[resq302]

The old style vs. the one I had made had the tip go in too far and you could end up bending / breaking the windings inside the alternator.  Also, there was a good chance that it would have either bent or twisted the fin of the casing as the tip was very thin which allowed a lot of play.  My version does not allow the tip to go that far into the alternator to make the possible contact/damage that the original version could.

[bill440rt]

To avoid marring you could always place a rag in between it at the tip. Or cover the tip with a rubber plug, like the ones you find on the ends of new brake/fuel lines.
Right, Brian? 

[resq302]

Bill, or the tool could come like this......   




The pics I posted a couple replies ago I wanted to show the bare tool without the rubber channel or the rubber dipping to give a better picture.  The black rubber on the tool would not have showed a good gap between the tool and the alternator.