BATTERIES

[Ron Hill]

Paul : Go to JC Whitney and purchase yourself a "Belt Tightening Tool".  It's about $10!!

A thought

[Ron Hill]

Paul: Another tip I wrote up years ago was how to keep the alternator adjustment in place. 
Check the length of the bolts on the adjustment arm and you'll find that the if you use a longer bolt there are more threads to keep it tight!!

A thought

[n624ma]

Ron, I can't find it at JC Whitney anymore!
But for twice the price $19.67 MSC Direct still has it,  http://www.mscdirect.com/product/35438209

[Stu Jackson]

Thanks for the golf battery explanation Stu.

Now hopefully she can retain that belt tension. I do have the upgraded alternator bracket. The bracket is so narrow and the slot is so close to the end, there isn't a lot of surface area for the screw to grab, hence the large fender washer. Going to search for keeping the alternator where you want it, as I'm sure it's been written up : )

Paul, glad to help.  If you go back to the Critical Upgrades, and after you purchase your alternator belt tensioner, read about the alternator pivot bolts,  here:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5078.msg47017.html#msg47017

Hope you had a great cruise.

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

I have also used a small ratcheting bar clamp from harbor freight. You can reverse one of the clamp arms and it turns into a spreader. Worked for me.

Mike

[Ron Hill]

Guys : The longer (only by about 1/4"-1/2" ) bolts are for the adjust arm, not the thru bolt for the pivot point on the top of the alternator. 
That pivot bolt should only be threaded about an inch from the end!!

A few thoughts