The V8 Owners Forum -

Hi all,

I have a '87 Land Rover 90 with a factory fitted V8 and I have recently changed the alternator belt and on full adjustment the belt is only just tight enough.

The belt is ERR2073 which I believe is the correct one so what have I done wrong?! Is there something I have missed?

The engine is a 3.5 with SU carbs, it originally had air con and the alternator takes drive from the PAS pump.

Any help/suggestions most welcome and sorry for being such a numb nuts!

I have found that the alternator bracket can bend towards the PAS pump, giving the effect you describe. Some models have a stiffener bar.

Or get a shorter belt - just take the original to Halfords and look at the range...

Chris.

Thanks for your reply Chris, so it's a common (ish) problem?

Never thought about using a different belt- great idea! I suppose it just needs to be the same thickness? And of course the length I need.

The belt length is the number on the belt, 2073 is exactly that in MMs dont go mad, just 25mm is probably enough, so 2050 is possibly about the right size

With all due respect, if the belt was 2073mm that would mean the belt is a little over 2 metres long! Or am I being stupid as per usual?!

I've done a bit of research as to what belt might be suitable and it does seem that it's common for the belt dimensions to be incorporated in the part number, like you say. However maybe not so with Land Rover part numbers.

The belt has an outside diameter of 700mm approx, I've noticed that an alternator belt for a Land Rover 200Tdi engine is 605mm so maybe this would fit at a push - for under £4 it's worth a try I think....

That's why I recommended Halfords as you can remove the belts from the packaging and compare them, so it's dead easy to find one that's just a shade shorter. I am 99% sure the Halfords number does include the length in a coded form, and I am also 99% sure the Land Rover part no. doesn't!

Chris.

Sorted! I went to Halfords as you suggested Chris and got a belt 675mm long and it fits perfectly! If my source is reliable that is the correct length of a genuine Land Rover belt (something I later found out).

It seems that sellers of non-genuine belts possibly source belts of a particular size and then list them as fitting any vehicle with a belt length within 10/15mm of this length.
This would explain the belt I brought originally (non-genuine) being 690mm and the old belt (which wasn't genuine either) being 685mm and being acceptable on full adjustment.

Of course, I could just be talking b*llocks but maybe you do get what you pay for and should always stick with genuine parts!

Cheers.

Good news!, glad you got it sorted.

Chris.