Why is it shreadding the belt 2nd time in 500 miles.

[Joe Mc]

Put a new belt (Gates @ $30. 00) on before leaving for Yellowstone. Checked to be sure it was on correctly, and inspected everything every fuel stop. For the first 5,300 miles no problem. Then at the last fuel stop before home (Saturday 8/12 and 500 miles ago) I heard a chirping while I was fueling up. The belt has split the rib closest to the engine and started climbing twoards the water pump & other accy's. I let it cool down, cut it off and installed the spare, no big deal back on the road. Then tonight I took my neighbor to get a thermostat for his house and I hear a "slapping" noise under the hood on the way back Sure enough the belt had split the rear rib and started to climb off twoards the engine again



I'm positive I installed it correctly. I checked all the pullys for burrs, nothing sharp I realize the clearances are tight between the crank pully and the block/pan, but there are reliefs so the axial movement of the crank dosen't make contact with the block What the heck is going on? I can't afford a belt eater. God forbid if the belt stopps the fan and cause it to do a frisbie act underneath the hood



Help

 

[Ray Davis]

belt

my experince is the belt tentioner needs replacing

 

[danandamy]

One of three things are happening.

1. You are getting the belt one rib off. It's not a hard thing to do.

2. Something is binding up. Take the belt off and see if everything spins freely by hand.

3. Something is throwing the belt out of alignment. If this is the case, it's probably the tensioner assy.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jetson]

Practical Solutions has a heavy duty idler pulley that should last longer than the plastic one from the factory.

 

[Joe Mc]

Should arrive tomorrow

Thanks Guys, I saw a thread re: the HD Pully @ work today and ordered it up. Now all I have to do is find a Gator Serp Belt. I'm running right now on 4 out of 7 ribs good thing it's only 17 mile each way to work. Spent too much time today trying to locate the Gator, 3 Goodyear places don't have them! NAPA here uses Daton (ugh) and Gates (already been through one of them), so I guess I'll go to the Gates.