Finally managed to fire her up after a head re-build but there's a knock from the front end which I swear wasn't there before.
To track it down I want to briefly remove the alternator/waterpump drive belt.
Anything else I should disconnect i.e. the electrical connections at the back of the alternator??
Any advice/comments appreciated.
Thanks, Pewe

[Edited on 21/4/10 by pewe]

What sort of knock? Not sure how removing the fanbelt would help.

If you're running without the alternator it won't matter about disconnecting anything.

Just make sure you don't short out the connections on the back of the alternator to the chassis / engine.

Those big thick wires aren't fused and if you short them out you'll burn them out.

Just watch for the engine overheating due to the water not going round.

It might be worth checking the bottom pulley is tight on the crank.

However knocks are generally either ignition or piston or big end related.

Thanks guys.
BT not bearings or bottom end - my trusty divining rod (aka tyre lever) sounding on the various components points to either alternator or cam-belt idler pulley bearings (unless I've overtightened one of the belts).
Removing the alernator belt should narrow down the search.
Cheers, Pewe

Much later....... took the belt off the water-pump/alternator so now know it's deffo not those. Went for a drive but the knock's still there. Looks as if the idler pulley will have to come off. Bit of a b*gger as that means moving the oil-cooler and removing the crankshaft pulley. Hey, ho - one step forwards and two back.....

[Edited on 21/4/10 by pewe]

Running with the alternator belt of, as far as the alternator is concerned, is the same as it not running. Which is clearly fine.

What you cant really do is spin the alternator without it connected to a load. But not spinning it when its connected up is fine.

just watch out that you dont overheat it as the waterpump wont be running too, but no problem to take the belt off.

I know someone that had the exact same problem, knock and after he removed the aux. belt it was gone, he put it back on without changing anything and its still gone, weird but true