Fan belt replacement done quick

[quattrorunner]

On my way to an appointment which I was nearly late for, I noticed my alternator light was on. Turned off the engine and coasted off the expressway to check things out, broken belt. Not having much hope because I didn't have my pully wrench on me, I remembered a crazy youtube video of a VW belt being replaced with the engine running.............yeah.
So I decided I'd give it a try. I posistioned the belt, while engine running so that it would be around the pully and then directed the top portion, with a long screwdriver, to the alternator pully and before I knew it, it had just jumped on and was nothing more to do. I worry that the belt is damaged as it was certainly stretched to get on there so I'm getting a couple more replacements for the trunk. I thought it was really cool and I was only 3 minutes late to my appointment. Wish I took a video of that.

[quattrorunner]

The Original Fast Volkswagen Belt Change. - YouTube
After watching this video again I wonder if I should have directed the belt over the pully as the final move rather than the alternator pully. The alternator pully is a taller jump.

[Don Insel]

Wow thats pretty cool.Dangerous but cool.

[ThomO]

and the Doctor said I have no idea how he got that screwdriver so far up his nose.

Geez

[quattrorunner]

It was even easier than that guy showed. Took less than 10 seconds of engine running without the fan.

[emac]

Quattorunner after spending over one hour trying to get the shims,belt and outer pulley held in one place with no success I then remembered the video. Took less then two seconds albeit I did not have the car running. I placed the belt and clicked the key success.
Ernie 81sc

[quattrorunner]

Originally Posted by emac

Quattorunner after spending over one hour trying to get the shims,belt and outer pulley held in one place with no success I then remembered the video. Took less then two seconds albeit I did not have the car running. I placed the belt and clicked the key success.
Ernie 81sc

Well, Keep in mind that getting the tension is important. And we should do it the right way using the shims. Each belt is diffrent and thats why we have 6 shims so we can get tension right. My post is really a quick back on the road way not a replacement for the right way. It was cool though.

[emac]

I had the shims right same belt over a year
Ernie 81sc

[Guardsred911]

That is fantastic....and fully awesome.... and yes, what ThomO said... no idea how the screw driver got there...
I wonder what other stupid human tricks there are for these cars. My buddy used to change his tires on his BMW himself using a 2X4 on the rubber which he drove on with his truck to pop the bead.... pretty cool until the 2X4 broke and stuck in the wall!!

[scarceller]

And the part I love about the video is he has over 1 million views! Gotta love it!

[quattrorunner]

Keep an extra belt in the front trunk and a screwdriver and your pretty set with that job.

[Goodie]

This site never fails to amaze me...in a good way!!

[larrym]

there are actually mechanics' tools for doing this with the engine NOT running, but turning slowly as suggested above

- in an emergency - who cares about perfect tension??????

Thexton #332 V Belt Installer and Remover (i've had one for many yrs)
and
UNI-TOOL ELAST
and
KD Tools 3681 Serpentine Stretch Belt Installation Tool
and
OTC 7654 Sepentine Belt Installation Tool

.

[safe]

Originally Posted by emac

Quattorunner after spending over one hour trying to get the shims,belt and outer pulley held in one place with no success
Ernie 81sc

Really??? Thats amazing if anything...


You guys should be worried about cracking the fan housing, thin magnesium casting. To much tension of the belt will do that.

[emac]

Safe I'd rather pull the engine I did not use the screwdriver

[mikesride]

At the end of the video it says "Thanks Kelso RIP"......wonder if the last guy DIED doing this!!! LOL! Very cool!

[rusnak]

I would never intentionally install the belt that way. There might be one exception, and that would be if the threads were stripped, and the nut is barely in there, and you can't risk loosening it, and you have to limp back home and are stranded hundreds of miles from the nearest parts store.

I've done that once on a friend's 911, and even then, I used the starter to jump the belt back on. Otherwise, I do it the right way.

If you have trouble with the shims, then tighten the nut finger tight, and push the shims one at a time under the cap washer until they are tight, then tighten the nut.

[redturbo911]

Now that is some great info. Risky but good to know. Thanks for the video.

[kidporsche911]

Holy **** it worked. Belt broke last night and didn't have the tools to replace my belt. A few hours ago I began working on alternative. Found great videos showing how to remove belt with out tools. And than found topic about getting the belt on using the method above. I used the same method but instead of doing it the way they showed on the video. I placed the belt on top and half of belt on the bottom right corner. I got in as much as I could. Knowing the fan turns clockwise. I than start the car turning the belt and the left bottom corner caught on and BAM, belt slid right into place.

Sorry no video. I just finished in a nick of time. Got dark out and just wanted to get this done.

Thank you guys.