Land Rover Repair: 1995 Disco Serpentine Belt tension, alternator pulley, tensioner pulley

Question
Just had the alternator go in my 1995 Disco 3.9 and have
replaced that as well as the belt. I'm now having trouble
setting belt tension and the tachometer is not working
when started either (it was "sticky" before the alt went--
making lots of noise and not passing 1000). What play
would you give as ideal for the belt and do you have any
suggestions about the tachometer?  

Answer
Hi Kelly,

this sounds like you have not fed the serpentine belt correctly.  The belt is slipping on the alternator pulley wheel and that is why you are getting bogus readings (if any).  Make sure you have the correct serpentine belt for your '95 Disco AND that the belt is installed properly.

Unfortunately, diagrams cannot be attached to this ALLexperts dialog and we all know a picture is worth one thousand words...

GOTO the following webpage for a picture of how to feed your serpentine belt around all those pulleys:

http://groups.msn.com/LRDiscovery/shoebox.msnw

the tensioner pulley should take up all the slack (if any)and there should be little to no movement from your belt.  If there is, you have the wrong size belt.

The tachometer measures the revolutions of your alternator and there is a small black wire that is connected to the alt (in back).  Mark sure no wires are unconnected.  I once had a mechanic pull this wire out stating 'its not important'... I reconnected it and have never gone back to that guy.

Best of luck,

JohnMc