How many alternator pulley shims on a G50?

[KFC911]

I don't know how many threads I've read that cautions about using a total (inside & outside) of EXACTLY 6 altenator pulley shims. On my '88, when I removed the pulley, I discovered 7 shims, so I removed one, and now I'm second guessing myself. Can someone confirm that 6 is indeed the correct number of shims for an '88. Thanks in advance!

[VaSteve]

Keith

When I changed my belt, I found that there were only 4 on mine! I had to order more, but the car was fine up until that point.

I don't think that really answered your question, but you can have more or less than the 6 and still run the car...

[ZOA NOM]

My 88 has six (3 in, 3 out) and never a slip.

[KFC911]

Thanks guys! Steve, that's why I was second guessing myself, as I had read of many instances where folks discovered they had less than 6 shims (which over time could cause undue wear), but I'd never read of anyone having more than 6. Thanks Zoanas...that makes me feel a whole lot better about my decision to remove one when I reinstalled everything.

[ZOA NOM]

Yeah, the critical number is how many you have INSIDE the pulley, as that determines the grip on the belt. How many "spares" you have outside the pulley, under the nut is irrelevant.

[Noney]

Had 7 on mine, too. Removed one with no ill effects.

[KFC911]

Originally posted by ZOANAS
Yeah, the critical number is how many you have INSIDE the pulley, as that determines the grip on the belt. How many "spares" you have outside the pulley, under the nut is irrelevant.

Are you sure? That's exactly what I thought caused the premature wear issue...i.e. not having the 'rest' of the 6 shims on the outside of the pulley. Still learning as I go....

[tiorio]

Originally posted by ZOANAS
Yeah, the critical number is how many you have INSIDE the pulley, as that determines the grip on the belt. How many "spares" you have outside the pulley, under the nut is irrelevant.

You're not really supposed to have '3' specifically between the pulley halves, the number of shims determines the tightness of the belt. Too few and the belt will be too tight and wear components from the stress, too many and the belt will be too loose and slip.

The reason to make sure there are 6 is that if you only need 1 or 2 between pulley halves and don't install the other 4 or 5 outside the halves, the nut has the potential to bottom out on the shaft without actually putting the correct pressure on the outer pulley half. This is bad as not only will your belt not be tight enough, your pulley halves will be moving all over the place as the alternator shaft rotates.

Having too many total won't be a problem until you start running out of threads for the nut or if there's not enough notched shaft for them to rest on and they start moving all over the place too. 7 shouldn't get you to that point...

Of course, this is all IIRC of course!

[KFC911]

Originally posted by tiorio
....
Having too many total won't be a problem until you start running out of threads for the nut or if there's not enough notched shaft for them to rest on and they start moving all over the place too. 7 shouldn't get you to that point...

Of course, this is all IIRC of course!

Thanks Todd, your analysis is how I interpreted this also. I had never read about anyone having more than 6 (and since I removed one), I began to have doubts and began second guessing myself. This board is great, and helps keep a novice like myself on the right track...Thanks!!!

[Dixie]

My '88 had five shims. Never presented a problem, but I added one to bring it to six.

Now if only I could find the correct width belt...

[Todd Simpson]

your pulley halves will be moving all over the place as the alternator shaft rotates.

...and this is a very bad thing. That wobble will put a mean groove in your fan in short order. Mine is trashed after 1 day of wobble, I'm off to the welder to see if it can be fixed.

[ZOA NOM]

You're not really supposed to have '3' specifically between the pulley halves, the number of shims determines the tightness of the belt. Too few and the belt will be too tight and wear components from the stress, too many and the belt will be too loose and slip.

I didn't mean to say you had to have 3, just that I have 3 there. Also, the outer shims do add some space between the domed washer and the pulley, which looks irrelevant because the domed washer should prevent the nut from bottoming out.

[Jeff Alton]

Todd, it can be fixed, this happenned to me years ago. Quick weld and a little time being careful with a file and it was good as new!

Jeff