Loose Bolt

[marinabrid]

hi all can anyone tell me what this is for this bolt has worked loose from i think the power sterring pump bracket. on the knurled thing that the bolt goes thru its all chewed up and the bolt wont tighten is it power steering related the belt thpough is still tight 1997 90 tdi galaxy thanks dont know how i got two pics on ! Edited June 10, 2007 by martinblackett

[Dave-G]

The lugs behind the shoulder suggest it's a tensioner device that shifts corresponding teeth of a component that is pivoted and locked up elsewhere - in this case your power steering pump. Some alternator belts are also tensioned in this way.

 

Given that the belt is tight and you don't refer to any power steering issues I would say don't do anything untill it breaks.

 

Now whats that rusty old spring doing there? :rolleyes:

[marinabrid]

the bolt that goes thru the thing with the teeth keeps working loose and wont tighten up plus all the teeth on the thing are chewed up i cant fathom how its keeping the belt tight when its not doing anything the rusty spring is a home made affair to keep the aircon hose away from the belt. think i will get a new toothy thing but any ideas how to tighten up a bolt that must have worn threads in the housing where it goes ?

[Neils TDi again]

Hold the large hexagon with a ring spanner and do up the 13mm hexagon with a socket wrench as the 13mm is the locking bolt for the large hexagon adjuster on the tension of you r power steering belt, the bolt screws into the cast housing of the pump soif its not locking thenthe thread may be stripped and a new pump will be needed.

[Dave-G]

I had not sptted the flat's on the "shoulder" - well done Neil.

 

Maybe possible to tap out a larger thread to hold it - or perhaps if they are removed and cleaned up you might get a better crack if the bolt moves in the nut sort of thing

[marinabrid]

why is the belt still tight when this adjuster thing is just going round and round and wont tighten up /

[big_kev]

I thought it was a Pivot Bolt and that it was the Roller Bearing behind it that had come loose.

 

This would make sense as it would not actually be tightening the belt.

[marinabrid]

hi have we decided what this item is ? im confused ! its not a bearing of any sort the bolt goes thru it but wont tighten up but my belt is tight ! as you tighten it whats it supposed to do if i get a new one how much do i nip it up

[Neils TDi again]

The Larger part fo the adjuster should act like a cog into a set of teeth on the body of the pump, as it rotates it ratchets along and tensions the belt. You then lock the position using the the smaller through bolt.

 

If its been left loose the teeth that it is supposed to engage with may have been worn away.

[marinabrid]

thanks for that its odd the teeth on the cog are worn away and the bolt will not nip up but the teeth on the plate that it rolls on to tension it are in good condition why isnt the belt loose i cant fathom

[Neils TDi again]

The bolt at the rear of the pump is currently holding the tension, if that comes loose the pump will be free to swing in towards the engine and slacken the belt.

 

Neil

[marinabrid]

MANY THANKS FOR HELP have ordered new cog will have to try some emetal to try and get the bolt to hold i think

[turk90210]

NNNNNOOOOOOO dont use emetal

the nut with the teeth is to tension the belt only alot of the vw range use this set up the small 13mm bolt in the middle of the toothed one is the bolt that actually secures the pump. Its very common to find the toothed nut worn as people keep moving it till the teeth wear off thinking its the securing nut it is made of softer metal compared to the arm

check the tightness of the centre bolt(13mm)this is what secures the pump/adjustment. If its loose but the pump wont move then the pivoting bolts higher up are tight and need loosening before adjustment can take place. its hard to explain where they are but basically scoure all the 13mm bolts around the pump and loosen them all