Not feelin the love for Honeybunny.

YOU WANT ME TO GO DOWN THERE?



ASSUME POSITION! YOU WILL KISS FIBERGLASS, AND YOU WILL LIKE IT!





















































































The alternator belt is loose, when I climbed down to tighten it I found a missing nut on the tension arm. The now bare bolt rubbed a chafe hole in my water pump to heat exchanger hose...sigh (loudly). So I ordered a replacement hose for the Volvo and two new lock nuts for the tension arm (one to replace the missing lock nut, the other to drop in the bilge while replacing the missing lock nut). Next is to remove the alternator belt to check the mount for any other issues.........

Well, it nearly broke me in two but I got the belt off of the alternator. All looks good, no more loose bolts or studs that I can tell, and I have learned much about my engine who I named Honey bunny. The engine, a Volvo MD2020 D, is a real beaut. It is also a vdrive, which means that the engine sits backwards and the belt is under the cockpit sole. In order to get to the alternator belt I must crawl into the lazarette, hang upside down, and smush my face up against a grimy old fiberglass partition just to "feel" my alternator. Or I can fold myself in two, twist my neck in an un natural state (similar to what you saw during the movie "The Exorcist") in order to actually "see" my alternator. Neither position gives me good access to the back of the engine, both positions induce an intense desire to buy an outboard and slap it on OG's stern. Plus it was about 100 degrees today so grimy and sweaty, fun.

I am very tired, will sleep like a baby tonight and will dream of a beautiful sailboat (OG) sailing in deep blue water, under a starry sky....sigh (sweetly). I love my boat.

P.S.
A shout out to all my peeps at Cruisers Forum for helping this mechanically "disinclined to be inclined" gal through the maze of basic alternator understanding.