Replacing Generator Belt on Farmall M

Have been trying for some time to replace the generator belt on my Farmall M. (It's getting pretty ragged.) To do so requires first slackening the water pump belt for which I could find no adjustment. However, thanks to information from this forum, I located the set screw and locknut securing the adjustable water pump pulley to the shaft along with instructions for loosening the water pump pulley to slacken the belt. The locknut came off easily but the set screw would not budge, even after weeks of soaking in PB. (Possibly because it was set into the shaft threads and not into the slot where it should be.) Talking to a friend, he suggested we try an impact screwdriver which he happened to have. That did the trick! Now, before I go any further, I have several questions;

1. Are the threads on the adjustable pitch water pump pulley standard right-hand threads as it appears?

2. I was told to use a brass rod to tap against the hump on the pulley hub as the proper way to loosen the pulley. Why brass rather than a steel rod and where might I find one?

3. Would it be okay to replace the slotted set screw with a square head screw to make it easier to remove should I ever do this again?

4. Is it okay to put some anti-seize compound on the thread pulley shaft and the set screw threads?

Thanks for any recommendations.

#1 yes, right hand threads.

#2 Brass is much less likely to do any damage

#3 A set screw with a lock nut will stay in place. A common bolt will not.

#4 clean up those threads with a wire brush. Get it to the point that the outer portion turns easily on the inner portion using just your hands. A little oil or grease can be applied if needed, and a thin layer of grease should be sufficient to protect from rusting again. Anti-sieze is O.K., but I don't think I would use it.

You use a brass rod so as not to brake the water pump hub. Brass will give but a steal rod will not and can brake the water pump. As for the treads yep they are standard. As for what you use for a bolt I have seen so many different ones in them that it is not funny. Some have the slotted ones, some have had a bolt and nut, and some have had nothing in them or at least that is what I have seen on the ones I have had

Melvin:
1) Yes, I believe its standard right-hand thread.
2) Brass is softer, less likely to break the cast iron pulley. I used steel on mine, just tapped, rather than hit hard. You can also use a hard wood or buy brass in electrical or hardware store -- ground rod, etc.
3) Sure! Its your tractor. I think mine is square
4) Your decision. I would not, as I won't be replacing belt for many years and I wouldn't want it to come loose in the meantime. Good Luck!

I just did the belts on an H and need to do the M here soon. Both the gen and water pump were standard right hand threads. Once I got it all cleaned up and moving freely I worked a nice thin layer of antiseize on the pulley threads and the locknut threads. I put it on anything that I want to get apart again. Oil or grease of course help but won't last long enough till the next belt change like antisieze will.

Problem with using a punch to release the hub is how do you hold the other side? (Maybe someone will give me their secret to getting them apart before I have to do the M) I managed to get mine with 2 large channelocks but it came somewhat easy.

melvin, i get brass rod from a local machine shop. they usually have a few pieces laying around that you can pick up for a couple dollars. heres a pic of the rod driving the hub. i use anti-seize on em when i get em loose
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The spec for all common IH bolts is to use an oil unless otherwise specified, and then it was usually a substitute like red or white lead. And it is included in the torque spec. (Anti seize uses nearly the same torque spec as oil.) A dry bolt will typically not torque down well and is actually more likely to come loose. It has artificial friction and appears to be more tight than it actually is, leading to the feeling that it must be tight because it turns hard. Of course there are always the cases where dirt is incidentally used as an epoxy. :lol: In places where "working out" might be a problem you will see fine thread used. The IH crawlers are full of them.

Anti seize rules.

PS: That generator belt sucks.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but what size belt do you have for the generator? My tractor is 6hours away, the belts need to be replaced, but everything is cheaper to buy here at home than in the town where the M is.

To: e-manhunt
I don't know what size the belt is. Was waiting to get the old one off and measure it but still haven't been able to loosen the water pump pulley to remove the belt. May not be a standard belt anyway since it looks like someone fabricated a special bracket for mounting the 12V generator. Can let you know once I get it off.