Tools or techniques required to change alternator pulley?

[mars]

Bought a new alternator but it has a different pulley on from that which I require. Pulley is held on by a 24mm nut and the spindle has an 8mm hex socket machined into it, for location by an allen key.

I guess I need a 24mm socket with flat sides machined into the *outside* of it so I can put the 8mm allen key through the square peg hole normally reserved for the wrench, and a large spanner or vice holding the socket in place.

I'll try to see if I can hold the socket tight enough in my vice as it is, but I'm betting the fact that it's nice and slippery-round will prevent that.

Other ideas gratefully received.

[TooTall Paul]

Buzz it of with a snap on buzzzzzz gun (torque gun)

[jensena]

Idea No 1:
Go to your local friendly garage and ask them to MIG weld a solid round Bar at 90* to the socket side to act as a handle (most Jap car tool kits come a round bar to use on the jack) should take them about 20 seconds.

[farmyardpants]

Idea#2 take a common or garden 24mm socket and angle grind two flat sides. Put flats thus made into vice, insert allen key through socket hole and apply hammer..

[Ireland]

mars said:

I'll try to see if I can hold the socket tight enough in my vice as it is, but I'm betting the fact that it's nice and slippery-round will prevent that.

Socket on short extension and short extension in the vice.

But why can't you just use an open spanner or shifters to open the nut?

[mars]

You have to try and stop the pulley itself from rotating, and I'm not comfortable putting the pulley into the vice in case I deform it.

The nut is recessed into the pulley preventing an open spanner from reaching it. It's done up farkin' tight so there's no way you'd get enough purchase on the nut by inserting a spanner in at an angle. It needs to be *well* located.

Although I love my tools and hate having to modify them, angle grinding a couple of flats onto one might just be the answer. Thanks. I can always buy another one as they're all from Halford Prof range and they sell them singularly as well as in the set I've got anyway.

[Ireland]

Something like this basin spanner, perhaps .....

[holsaway]

mars said:

You have to try and stop the pulley itself from rotating, and I'm not comfortable putting the pulley into the vice in case I deform it.

The nut is recessed into the pulley preventing an open spanner from reaching it. It's done up farkin' tight so there's no way you'd get enough purchase on the nut by inserting a spanner in at an angle. It needs to be *well* located.

Although I love my tools and hate having to modify them, angle grinding a couple of flats onto one might just be the answer. Thanks. I can always buy another one as they're all from Halford Prof range and they sell them singularly as well as in the set I've got anyway.

take youre old and new alternator to youre nearest friendly garage and ask them to remove it with an air impact gun this can be done whilst holding the pully with a rag to stop some of the turning, they can then fit pully to youre new unit give em a couple of quid and job done

[farmyardpants]

mars said:

You have to try and stop the pulley itself from rotating, and I'm not comfortable putting the pulley into the vice in case I deform it.

The nut is recessed into the pulley preventing an open spanner from reaching it. It's done up farkin' tight so there's no way you'd get enough purchase on the nut by inserting a spanner in at an angle. It needs to be *well* located.

Although I love my tools and hate having to modify them, angle grinding a couple of flats onto one might just be the answer. Thanks. I can always buy another one as they're all from Halford Prof range and they sell them singularly as well as in the set I've got anyway.

Cool, good luck. Let us know how many allen keys you break Might be a problem getting the short side of the key to reach, and inserting the long side won't give you much leverage. Not sure it will work. Idea#3 is to employ an assistant to hold the pulley still using an oil filter removal thingy (or a jar opener, the kind with a rubber belt) while you get medieval on the nut with halfords finest.

[methodwares]

holsaway said:

mars said:

You have to try and stop the pulley itself from rotating, and I'm not comfortable putting the pulley into the vice in case I deform it.

The nut is recessed into the pulley preventing an open spanner from reaching it. It's done up farkin' tight so there's no way you'd get enough purchase on the nut by inserting a spanner in at an angle. It needs to be *well* located.

Although I love my tools and hate having to modify them, angle grinding a couple of flats onto one might just be the answer. Thanks. I can always buy another one as they're all from Halford Prof range and they sell them singularly as well as in the set I've got anyway.

take youre old and new alternator to youre nearest friendly garage and ask them to remove it with an air impact gun this can be done whilst holding the pully with a rag to stop some of the turning, they can then fit pully to youre new unit give em a couple of quid and job done

what he said

[Julian64]

air impact gun of a suitable size.