How do you change drive belt on 1973 beetle?

Answer 1

Take a screwdriver and a socket that fits the nut in the middle of the upper pulley on the alternator. Notice the notches on the back of the pulley. Turn the pulley until you have a notch at your 1 o'clock position. (Just slightly to the right of top dead center) Put your screwdriver through the notch and hold it tightly. You'll need it for leverage. Now, take your socket and turn the nut in the middle to the left while you pull back on the screwdriver. (You may want to hose the bolt down in WD-40 first.) Hopefully the bolt will come loose, and turn off.

With the nut undone, take the front half of the pulley assembly off. If you can help it, try not to remove the back half of the pulley. It's a pain to get back on. After you remove the front of the pulley, take note of how many shims are there. They are paper thin metal rings. If the belt was riding too loosely, try removing one shim. If it was too tight, add one if you have extras. If it fit well, with about 1/2" to 3/4" deflection, leave the shims as they are.

Take the old belt off the bottom pulley and use it to make sure you have the correct size for your new belt. With the correct belt, loop it around the bottom pulley. Take the top pulley half that you removed earlier, and, holding the belt against the back pulley with your other hand, slide the pulley front on the alternator shaft. Once you have the belt between the pulley halves, you can put the nut back on.

You will want to do the first steps in reverse. Have the notch you used earlier at the 11 o'clock position, or slightly left of top dead center. Put your screwdriver back in the notch for leverage. You can tighten the nut by hand until you can't anymore, and then put the socket to it. Pull back on the screwdriver as you tighten. You should notice the belt being pushed further and further out on the pulley. Don't worry that it's too loose until you get the pulley completely tightened down. Once it is tight, and the belt fits well, you are done!