How to change belts on 3b engine

[Reinhardtius]

Hi Everyone

My 3b has squeaky belts (alternator and power steering pump) and I would like to replace them.

I could not find the procedure in the 3b engine manual nor online, but maybe my search queries are whacky. Either that, or changing these belts is so easy that only a fool like myself would think to ask.

Any chance someone could explain / offer some photos/photocopies of how I can pull this off? I promise to document the process on my end if someone can get me going.

Cheers,

Reinhardtius

P.S. Maybe there is a more appropriate part of this forum to ask this?

 

[coldtaco]

Usually you need to loosen the adjuster bolt to one of the accessories, like alternator, ac, power steering pump, vacuum pump. Its a long bolt that seems to be in a weird place.

 

[jblueridge]

On my 13BT two of the belts have pulleys with an adjuster bolt BUT you must loosen the bolt that holds that pulley onto its mount before turning the adjuster bolt. The adjuster bolt makes the belt tight but the other bolt holds everything in place.
Looking carefully with a flashlight at each belt and the pulleys it goes around should allow you to find the adjuster pulleys. My alternator belt is tightened by levering the alternator outwards...its bracket has one mount that is a slot, not a round hole to allow for the sliding. Loosen that bolt a bit, lever the alternator to make the belt tight, tighten the bolt again without letting things slip.
This stuff seems hard the first time but Toyota did a pretty good job making these things serviceable. You might need a ratchet wrench with extensions to reach the adjuster bolts but they are'nt on the bottom of the motor or anything.

 

[HomerOz]

Reinhardtius, my best advice is to first mark the present positions or settings, of both your Alternator and Powder Steering.
I do this with a black marker pen.
It may also be a good idea, to measure the present distance of adjuster for the Power Steering, to the top of the adjustment bolt, and write this measurement down.
Photo's would be easier way of showing you this but I don't have any available.
Also, I use a very large screw driver (between the Block and the Alternator), to carefully retention the Alternator belt, prior to re-tightening its bolt.

Hope that helps

D'oh!
Homer

 

[Reinhardtius]

Thanks, everyone. I was successful yesterday swapping out the old belts for new ones. Full write up coming this weekend.

Now, I should have a spare set on hand. Any of the parts gurus here have belt recommendations? The ones that came out looked like mitsuboshi belts, and the ones that went in were Gates belts (made in Poland). Would like to have OEM belts on hand.

Cheers,

Reinhardtius

 

[roscoFJ73]

Gates are as good as OEM , Bosch also make a good belt for Landcruisers. If your old ones look ok, keep them as emergency spares. They are lot easier to put on in the dead of night in the middle of no where because they have stretched a little.

 

[Reinhardtius]

Hi Folks

Here is how you change out the alternator and power steering belt on a 3b.

1. Disconnect power. I have a LHD 24v truck with two batteries. So, I removed the driver side battery from its tray.

2. The power steering belt comes off first, then alternator, because the power steering belt is on the outside. To remove, find the power steering tensioner screw, located on the driver side. Turn counter clockwise with a 14mm socket.

3. Turn counterclockwise until the belt becomes loose enough to remove with your hands. Set aside the used belt and save for emergencies.

 

[Reinhardtius]

4. Remove alternator belt. The alternator is held in place by a bolt (upper) and a nut (lower) . One bolt is on the top and one beneath. The one beneath is difficult to see and access. A ratcheting wrench helps access the lower nut. The upper nut can be accessed with a socket. Turn counterclockwise.

5. With the nut and bolt loosened, the alternator moves freely. You can then remove the belt easily.

 

[Reinhardtius]

6. It goes without saying that you do not have to remove the fan or shroud to remove the belts. You can weave them in front of the fan and through the shroud.


6. To reinstall, install the alternator belt first, then the power steering belt. The belts are going to be smaller and more difficult to install. If you do not have a belt install tool (I did not), then you have to use a lever to install them. To reinstall the alternator belt, I pushed the alternator along the sliding bracket all the way toward the engine to create the shortest distance from pulley to pulley. Then, I removed the lower skid plate, hung the belt on the upper pulley, and used a bar to stretch the belt over the lower pulley while lying on my back on the ground. This was difficult, but feasible.

7. To reinstall the power steering belt, hang the belt on the tensioner on the driver side, and bring it around to the power steering belt pulley. I then used a vice grip clamped to the side of the power steering pulley to prevent the belt from falling off, and then I used a socket wrench on the power steering pulley nut to forcibly turn the pulley counter clockwise. This force turned the pulley around, allowing the belt to stretch enough to slip over the lip and into the pulley. Nothing like a good lever!

8. Reinstall nut and bolt for alternator and tension the alternator by using a pry bar against the engine block to push the alternator away from the engine. Pushing the alternator away from the engine will add tension the belt. Use your socket wrench to tighten the bolt on the sliding tensioner. It may not be in the same location as before. The goal is for the belt to be appropriately tight. Make sure to reinstall the lower nut on the alternator and tighten accordingly.

9. Tension the power steering belt by turning the tensioner rod clockwise to the point where the belt is sufficiently tensioned.

10. Reinstall the battery, secure the battery, and reconnect the terminals to the battery.

11. Test drive and enjoy a squeaky-less Land Cruiser.

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

Thank you Reinhardt and the other mates for your contribution!