Poppin' Belts

[Ian Crawford]

Alright, pics hot off the phone from the parking lot. I have changed to a 3FE Alternator but it all mounts the same and you can see my alignment and belt fitment.

*** WARNING PHOTOS MY BE GRAPHIC TO THOSE WHO DON'T DRIVE THEIR CRUISER ***

This is my daily driver - haha

Belt: NAPA 8317XW48

 

[RMR]

Thanks for the info Dave, gonna check on the alignment as well. Any thoughts on the best way to check alignment?

Thanks Ian - in your second pic, it looks like your belt sits like mine does...on edge slightly heading towards the front of your truck. I guess thats ok then, if it works for you, should work for me! Now, I wonder if something else is causing my belt to fray. Also gonna check the crank shaft to see if something is off down there.

 

[Ian Crawford]

I agree and noticed that as well! Perhaps Georg will see this and chime in!

When you get home tonight, pop that belt completely off and start the truck, see if you still have the noise. If not check and make sure the alternator and PS pump spin freely. That way you can eliminate that.

 

[RMR]

For sure will do!

 

[RMR]

OK here are a few pics of the situation. I took the belt off both pulleys turn freely so that’s good news. I did notice that that squeal is in fact not coming from my belt issue. I have no idea where to start with that. I guess that’s a separate issue. Ian - think for now I’m gonna try your belt and see how that does until at least I hear back from Georg.

 

[orangefj45]

Thanks for the call. Hope the info I provided helps you to figure out what's causing the premature belt wear.

Georg @ Valley Hybrids

 

[RMR]

Thanks for taking my call Georg. Will post what I find out.

 

[WILLD420]

You have to get the bigger pulley for the Power Steering pump. I got mine from Iron Pig off road. Cost about $100 for the custom pulley and the adapter. That was before I knew about Georg.

Belts have to run on the sides in the proper size pulley or they don't work. I've been down this road with heavy equipment and all manner of cobbled up crap I've patched over the years. Belt squeal from a mis-matched pulley size is different than a slip squeal. If the pulley is squeezing it, the belt will have a high pitched squeal that changes with load and speed. If it is riding in the bottom of the pulley it will be a different tone.

Your crank pulley and Alternator pulley's are made for a 1/2" wide belt. Your steering pump is made for a 3/8" wide belt. The only belt that is working right is the steering belt, the other two are riding in the bottom of the groove. That will build up heat in the belt because they are made to drive on the sides with a very specific shape of the pulley walls. Running in the bottom of the groove builds up heat and runs on the inner surface of the belt, an area without cords. Belt life will be measured in hundreds of miles instead of thousands.

 

[RMR]

Thanks for the info! I will look into a bigger pulley.

 

[RMR]

After talking with Georg, I went to AutoZone and purchased the Duralast belt that he recommended for the Saginaw conversion. Fixed it right up, I had the wrong belt size all along. When I bought the truck I just kept replacing the belt with the size belt that was on it...Lesson learned. It also makes sense why the front end of my belts we’re getting frayed. Because the belt was not fitting in the pulley correctly it was pushing to the outside and slightly riding on its edge where things are a little bit rougher on the outer edge of the pulley, thus fraying the belt until eventually popping it. The Duralast belt number is 17620. Thank you to everyone who chimed in!