Belts

[richard zodrow]

Being new to this list, I am sure you have covered this in great lengths
in the past, but I really could use some of your combined knowledge. I
have a 76 PB with 101 k. For many years and miles it has been eating the
alternator belts. I have been told that the pulleys were out of align,
wrong belts, to much tension, not enough tension, etc. I have tried many
all these "fixes" and eventually the belt will start screaming at start
up and self destruct. What are your thoughts??? What are the
recommended belts I should be using. How about the serpentine belt
replacement I read about at GMCmotorhome.com????

Thanks
Rick Zodrow 76 PB in Illinois

 

[heinz wittenbecher]

> Most of us do not have trouble with the belt on the original alternators
> . You can talk to Heinz about the serpentine belt, that mod is not as
> easy as it might seem.
>
> gene
>

Just thought I'd mention in case it was missed on my website... The
Serpentine is now a piece of cake. My add-on mod of a Ford pulley and moving
the Alternator bracket North by 3 washers now has enough miles and "cycles"
on it to consider it a "done deal" and excellent enhance.

BTW, a cycle to me is batteries down sufficiently to force max Alt output
for 30 minutes+.

It's on those long max output cycles (and I do have a few of those that
the old scheme started slipping frequently and once it starts you might as
well put a new belt on. Best procedure pre-serpentine had been tighten and
then trya and catch it for a retighten before high output forces a 'slip'


FWIW... a battery combiner (Western Marine) may actually help the original
V-belt scheme as the other batteries don't get put on line immediately, but
rather after about a 30 second delay, giving engine/alternator a chance to
stabilize and warm up the v-grooves and belt closer to operating temps.

Back to work/play..... it's Alcoa day today
Heinz
www.bytedesigns.com/gmc