Cranking the engine over by accident!

[bigched]

Right, possible wally of the day award after this post. This morning I've tried replacing the alternator belt on my '89 Turbo. I got the old one off easily thanks to advice from this forum. I put the new one on but couldn't work out how to tighten it. I tightened the tensioner bracket and alternator etc but still way too loose. I then put a 19mm socket onto the nut that sits in the middle of the bottom pulley which the alternator belt wraps around and turned it very slightly. In doing this I noticed the top two pulleys move and obviously the belt moved with it. I then panicked and turned it back the other way to get it back to where it was. Movement was probably 1/4-1/2 inch at most. Have I buggered anything up or have I just turned the engine over by hand and done no damage?

[slewthy]

Not a wally.

Unlikely to have done any harm but wait for more enlightened members to chip in for better reassurance.

Hand cranking well recognised in most engines.

[Rich H]

If the cambelt was fitted then absolutely no problem. Ideally don't turn it backwards but it won't hurt it.

[ramjet]

If you only had the alternator belt off (or loose) and the timing belt is still in place, turning the engine over by hand doesn't matter in the slightest.

[bigched]

Thanks all, had myself properly worried . I'll try and get the alternator belt correctly tightened on Friday.

[ramjet]

So you're doing this work on an '89 Turbo, but you list your car as an Escort RS 2000? (nothing wrong with the escort mind you)

[bigched]

Haha yes. I need to get that changed don't I. I've got a few motors including two RS 2000s.