Advice needed re alternator Belt 2003 R1150gs

Hi I am trying to replace the alternator belt on my 2003 1150 gs the one with the small balance wheel on the front of the alternator pulley. The new belt is the same No. as the one I cut Off but I am having difficulty getting the new one on . The Alternator is hard against the engine casing so I cannot get any more free play there I am trying to wind it on placing the belt over the alternator pulley and attempting to wind it onto the engine pulley by turning the engine with a spanner on the pulley nut !!!!!! What am i dong wrong ??
the Belt No. is 592 Elast belt I have thought I might have to resort to getting a slightly longer belt But surely I should not have to go that route ? HELP PLease
Happy New Year to Everyone
Mike

Mike Whitworth said:

Hi I am trying to replace the alternator belt on my 2003 1150 gs ..... I am trying to wind it on placing the belt over the alternator pulley and attempting to wind it onto the engine pulley by turning the engine with a spanner on the pulley nut !!!!!! What am i dong wrong ??
the Belt No. is 592 Elast belt I have thought I might have to resort to getting a slightly longer belt But surely I should not have to go that route ? HELP PLease
Happy New Year to Everyone
Mike

Click to expand...

Maybe someone has a kludge that let's you try that, but the proper method to change the belt is to loosen the three bolts that hold the alternator in place. The alternator will drop an inch or so and you can place the new belt over the pulleys. The you have to raise the alternator back up and tension it properly. Depending on the type of pulley system and belt you either tension it to a specific height or you tension it to a specific torque. Someone else will point you to the right page or video that shows the technique.

Edit: here is a link to an article on the BMWRA site on how each type of belt gets tightened.
http://bmwra.org/otl/alternator-belts/

Even with the alternator dropped all the way down, it's still tight. That's just how it is.

The elastobelt is a bi**h to get on an 1150 because of the pulley flange. After fighting with mine, I found a post on AdvRider from Steptoe (confirmed by JvB) where he said that the older (non-elast) belts can be used on all 1150's and that's what I'll use next time.

The attached video shows a way to get an elasticized belt on using the back end of an adjustable wrench. I have used this technique twice now with great success. It kind of mimics the action of the special tool that BMW sells for this purpose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzPTPN98x40

Dave McDougall
2011 R1200GS