‘Orrible job!

[Mottie]

After 45 years in the trade, I had one of the trickiest jobs I’ve ever had. I had to fit a ribbed, stretch alternator belt to a Focus with a double crank pulley! Took me bloody ages! I normally just wind them on like a bike chain, never needed a tool but the angle made it impossible, even with three of us on it - one turning the crank and the others trying to keep the belt on the pulleys. I bought a universal plastic belt tool from Halfords which shattered when I tried to use it. Ended up spending a fortune and waiting for delivery for a tool that bolts on to water pump pulley and can only be used on that engine! Air conditioning belt slipped on in 20 seconds.

 

[Burnerman]

Aha that will be the one without the tensioner....never come across one, thankfully! I've heard they are ridiculous to sort - easier to take the engine out
John

 

[DIYspanner]

Is this one the same job?

 

[Mottie]

No. That one had a tensioner.

 

[Keithmac]

I've had a handful of occasions where a specific tool is needed, I give the customer the option to buy it or take to a main dealer.

 

[Mottie]

Unfortunately I was unaware and only took the job on of replacing the power steering pump on a Focus. Pretty straight forward but I was unaware that the power steering pipes were single use. Cost a fortune from the dealers so ordered a set off eBay. Five days after I started the job, I found out I couldn’t get the belt on! Couldn’t really send the bloke on his way with no belts on the car. Anyway, not so long ago I had the good fortune of another twin pulley Focus coming in that needed an alternator. I’ve recouped my money on the tool now.

 

[EddieM]

Joys of modern vehicles, you could take my old ford escort apart with a set of spanners, actually you could just drive it and it would start taking itself apart.