Morris Minor Owners Club

I am in the process of taking the engine out of my car and I remembered this thread (and others) where people had trouble swinging the dynamo down sufficiently to get the fan belt slack enough either to remove it or fit another belt. With the front off my car it was easy for me to take a photograph to show why all 3 dynamo bolts must be loosened enough so that the dynamo can be slid forwards about 1/4". If the dynamo is not slid forwards a bit, it will immediately foul on one of the water pump machine screw heads and it cannot drop down far enough to remove or refit the fan belt. Hope this is of some use. I presume this issue is caused by a difference between the original and currently available water pumps.

Stephen

Thanks Steven! A timely post. I have the engine out of the Midget at the moment and remember struggling earlier in the year to fit a new belt. Moving the dynamo forward 1/4 inch was the only way I could get a new belt on.

As I was doing a winter car check on my other classic I noticed damage to the belt so bought the one above for the spares box in which ever car I take out.Better than being stranded.

Classiccars wrote: ↑Sun Dec 29, 2024 8:13 pm As I was doing a winter car check on my other classic I noticed damage to the belt so bought the one above for the spares box in which ever car I take out.Better than being stranded.

Yes true but if you know this little "trick" then replacing a fan belt is a roadside repair with a basic toolkit and a head torch. I always carry a spare fan belt, a head torch, spanners and sockets amongst many other spares! Don't forget the disposable gloves unless you want filthy greasy hands......

Stephen

philthehill wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2024 12:34 pm There are several designs of dynamo/alternator adjuster bar fitted to the 'A' Series both straight and curved. If you have the right fan belt you may have the wrong adjuster bar.

That's interesting. I have a Marina 1275 block with an (aftermarket) alternator, but I am using the original Minor 1098 adjuster. Should I be using a different one?

With regard to my original post I had to change the belt on the consul capri as split.The one the club sent was probably a cm shorter.Why I don't know.I had to take the dynamo off and attach the belt them reattach the dynamo with it on the pulley Even the it was tough to get on as the dynamo to body fittings were tight and I could not line them up without a hammer and screwdriver.Nobody to help me so I felt like I deserved a medal after eventually getting it on.This was the reason for buying g a quick fix belt as just incase a normal spare could not be fitted at the roadside.Better than being stuck I thought.

Classiccars wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2025 7:42 pm With regard to my original post I had to change the belt on the consul capri as split.The one the club sent was probably a cm shorter.Why I don't know.I had to take the dynamo off and attach the belt them reattach the dynamo with it on the pulley Even the it was tough to get on as the dynamo to body fittings were tight and I could not line them up without a hammer and screwdriver.Nobody to help me so I felt like I deserved a medal after eventually getting it on.This was the reason for buying g a quick fix belt as just incase a normal spare could not be fitted at the roadside.Better than being stuck I thought.

If the new belt is that tight it sounds like it's too small. I wouldn't take any bets against it failing prematurely.

If its too tight it may cause the dynamo bearings to fail.

The hammer and screwdriver, rang alarm bells for me ——with the right belt, replacing is not rocket science.

Classiccars wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2025 7:42 pm With regard to my original post I had to change the belt on the consul capri as split.The one the club sent was probably a cm shorter.Why I don't know.I had to take the dynamo off and attach the belt them reattach the dynamo with it on the pulley Even the it was tough to get on as the dynamo to body fittings were tight and I could not line them up without a hammer and screwdriver.Nobody to help me so I felt like I deserved a medal after eventually getting it on.This was the reason for buying g a quick fix belt as just incase a normal spare could not be fitted at the roadside.Better than being stuck I thought.

I don't know the specifics of this particular car but this cannot possibly be right. There is no way you should need to take the dynamo off to replace a fan belt. Perhaps the dynamo has the wrong adjuster, the wrong pulley (too large) or it's the wrong fan belt.

If the fan belt is too tight it can damage the dynamo bearings and the water pump bearings as well as drastically shortening the life of the belt. It can even cause a riveted pulley to spit apart.

Stephen

Sounds like another Jo to add to the list.