#@!*&% Belt Replacement!!!!

[Marauderjack]

Well since my Gates belt was cracking a little and I had already bought a new GatorBack belt and my Billetflow idler was showing some wear (32K miles on it) and I was bored....I decided to change the belt and put on a new Billetflow idler!!:cool4: Not a horrible job but I forgot you have to completely remove the blower......but......it needed a little cleaning anyway.....grimey and oily but it's CLEAN now!!:eek:

BTW...the reason I put the "#@!&%" in the title is I THOUGH I'D NEVER GET THE DAMN NEW BELT ON!!!:mad2: The Gates one was tough but I finally got it on the PS pulley last time....the GatorBack was impossible to do that way..too short!!:shake: I routed it over and around everything with the PC idler out and while pulling the tensioner all the way back I was able to install the idler otherwise I would have had to find a couple gorillas to help stretch that belt!!!:help:

It had been about 35K miles since the belt was changed but it seemed to be doing fine.....I thought....until I tried the new belt....WOW!!!!:beer: I think the old one was slipping a little since the new one made 9 PSI at 5280 RPM's and it really feels stronger....left two rubber streaks for about 100 feet in first before I backed off!!:bows:

I think someone said not to use the GatorBack belt with a blower but since I had it I figured I'd give it a whirl....it sure is a lot quieter.....Stay tuned!!;)

Marauderjack:burnout: :burnout:

[snowbird]

Marauderjack,

Last time I (quickly) took a look at the the Michigan idler, I haven't noticed any wear but but i'm about 10-12 000 miles since it's install. My belt had started to get noisy in December and i ordered a new one but lately, really cold winter had discouraged me to do the change. Anyhow, the belt had stopped complaining since a couple weeks. I guess it had shortened a tad with the minus 10 - minus 28 we're having since about a month. I'll finish this at the end of February, when weather permit.

After your comments on that service task, it looks like i'm about halfway done with this idler. Thanks for the report.

[Zack]

If you grind a little off the tensioner stop, it makes belt changes way easier.
BTW, Gates belts are proven to be better blower belts.

[Marauderjack]

Not necessarily snowbird.....

I live at the coast here in SC and it is VERY sandy here.....Very abrasive and the belt gets sand imbedded in it and chews the idler up!!:cool:

I'd guess it would last twice as long in a less abrasive environment!!:confused:

Marauderjack:burnout:

BTW....Putting a belt on at -10* would NOT BE FUN!!!!:mad2: :argue:

[KillJoy]

If you grind a little off the tensioner stop, it makes belt changes way easier.

:up:

KillJoy

[Marauderjack]

I did grind a bit off the tensioner but the SOB was still about 1/8" too short!!!:mad:

And I think it was you Zack that made the GatorBack belt observation and said that the Gates belts are best!!:beer:

How long should a belt last in a blower application......reasonable driving??:confused:

Thanks for the replies!!;)

Marauderjack:burnout:

[Glenn]

I had the original Gates belt with my SC and had constant squeak on start-up. Change to a new Gatorback which is made with sectioned ribs - no squeak ever. Gatorbacks are sold as quite belts.

Glenn

[KillJoy]

Gates = Gatorbacks?????

Do you have one of the Tensioner Tools?????

KillJoy

[Marauder386]

I live at the coast here in SC and it is VERY sandy here.....Very abrasive and the belt gets sand imbedded in it and chews the idler up!!:cool:

I'd guess it would last twice as long in a less abrasive environment!!:confused:


Dangit, quit goin out on the sea islands tah go crabbin and chasin the geechie girls ...sheesh.

At least lemme join yah...:D


:cool:

[Marauderjack]

Gates = Gatorbacks?????

Do you have one of the Tensioner Tools?????

KillJoy

"Tensioner Tool"......What's dat...another pair of hands??:confused:

Marauderjack:burnout:

[Marauderjack]

Dangit, quit goin out on the sea islands tah go crabbin and chasin the geechie girls ...sheesh.

At least lemme join yah...:D


:cool:

Come on down!!:beer: :banana:

[cyclopsram]

Why not get a belt a coupla MM longer?

[Marauderjack]

I had the original Gates belt with my SC and had constant squeak on start-up. Change to a new Gatorback which is made with sectioned ribs - no squeak ever. Gatorbacks are sold as quite belts.

Glenn

How's your Gatorback holding up Glenn??:confused:

[Marauderjack]

Why not get a belt a coupla MM longer?

The #@!&% things stretch over time and you run out of tensioner travel!!:argue:

[KillJoy]

"Tensioner Tool"......What's dat...another pair of hands??:confused:

Marauderjack:burnout:


Mac used to have a pic of one in his Gallery....but, it, like him, is appareantly AWOL.

I will try an ger a pics of mine ASAP for ya!

KillJoy

[Glenn]

Gatorback has been on for over 6 months and no problems and no noise.

Glenn

[tmac1337]

I had the original Gates belt with my SC and had constant squeak on start-up. Change to a new Gatorback which is made with sectioned ribs - no squeak ever. Gatorbacks are sold as quite belts.

Glenn

I have been getting a squeak at start-up that goes away in a couple of minutes? I thought it was a bearing going, and the noise goes away on warm up.

Could it possibly be the belt? I am currently using a NAPA Micro-V 061073, 107 7/8 inches, which is a Gates. Anybody know what a comparable Gatorback belt would be for that?

Anybody...?

[snowbird]

Tmac,

I use the original Gates offered with the FIT kit. Last month, i received the replacement due for the coming weeks and it was a NAPA with the same number. Don't know yet how the NAPA will run.