Hello,
My Alternator belt sequels for the first 10 seconds or so after starting and then goes silent. After that, there is no noise.
It’s a new belt and I’m thinking it just needs to be tightened.
I usually take a crowbar between the alternator and the engine/water pump area. I’ve always thought this was a bit of a primitive way of doing it.
Any suggestions on alternator belt tightening techniques would be appreciated.
Thx,
Jay
I’ve always thought the same thing, especially since Ford provided the boss on the power steering cast front to accept a wrench for tightening that belt. But no, the shop manual says to pry against the front half of the alternator case. I just slip a piece if radiator hose over the pry bar to limit the damage. I’d be happy to hear of any better ways too.
I like the idea of the hose to limit metal on metal contact.
Anyway, I did the old crowbar tightening technique and the squeal is gone.
I searched You Tube and other places for belt tightening ideas, but most video’s and blogs have moved on to more modern belt systems (Serpentine with a tensioner) and I struck out for any new ideas for a single belt alternator procedure.
I guess the old “tried and true” crowbar is it.
I usually use a 2x2 wooden piece of lumber.
I had an old wheel barrow handle that was ~2x2" but I couldn’t fit in between the alt and the water pump area without removing some parts (coil) so I reverted to the crowbar. But if it worked for you, that certainly is a good option.
Too expensive nowadays
Yeah, but if you get a new one from HD, it’ll have the right crookedness for the engine bay. 
That’s the truth! Remember how straight kiln dried lumber used to be? Now we pay 10x for damp and warped.
Glad you got belt tightened and noise stopped!
I know it’s late to this dance but I have an old piece of stair handrail that gets called into service on jobs like this…it just fits and it super strong…