V-belts
 

I'm having a problem with the v-belts. I've got new belts and after about every 8-10 hours I have to tighten. Now I don't have anymore adjustment left. This is the 2nd set this season. 80 hrs? The pulleys aren't bent,run straight,and are clean. Should I be using a different type of belt? Auto vs. Marine, is there such a thing? Also I've noticed the belts get thinner everytime I tighten them. Time to go serpetine?

Re: V-belts
 

I get my belts from Napa. The stock Merc belts cross over to a "15 series" belt, and are light duty, in my opinion. Most auto parts stores also sell "17 series" belts that are quite a bit fatter, and fill up the v-grove completely. Take your old belts in and match up the inside diameter to the fatter stuff. If they're not quite the right size, a decent store will exchange for the right one.

Are you getting a black belt dust build-up on the front of your motor or in your bilge? If so, you may have a pulley that is eating away at your belts. I went to a billet pulley setup with 17-series belts and my belt problems have all gone away.

Good luck,
Brian

Re: V-belts
 

Yes black soot everywhere in the bilge and around the front. But when running, the pulleys look nice and straight...??? I'm using the goodyear gatorback 15446 and 15225.

Re: V-belts
 

2 belts or 3? Are they all stretching/wearing, or just one? I have crank/alt/circ pump, crank/sea water, and crank/PS. If it's just one, look at the pulleys real close for burs, wobble, etc.

If it's both, could you be tightning them too tight? I leave 1/2 to 3/4" play in mine on the longest run. Lots of belt dust means it will fail soon, so you're doing the right thing in finding the source.

15446 (for example) means it's a 15-series belt, and 44.6" long. Substitute the 15 for a 17 and you'll end up with the same lenght but fatter. The 17-series will sit a little higher in the grove, so you might need slightly longer. Hopefully your auto parts store is close, because there is trial-and-error involved.

Brian

Re: V-belts
 

I had a circulating pump pulley that wobbled slightly. Not enough to see while running, but if you spun it freely with a rule against the pulley egde, it was obvious. One of the times I lost this belt, I "just" cracked a head. The other time, I slightly cracked a head, which leaned out the mixture to that cyl, which burnt a hole in the piston, blew the head gasket, cracked 3 exhaust valves, and filled up the block with water, Not a Good Day.

The second time around is when I went to billet pulleys.

Cheers,
Brian

Re: V-belts
 

P4- I have 2 belts crank,water pump,p.s. and other is crank, water pump,alt. Both belts are doing the same thing. I do have a parts store next door to our ford dealer. They will help out for a :drink:,and a ride:D: Thanks for the information!

Re: V-belts
 

Try a differant brand of belts, don't buy them from the same store, they may have a batch of bad belts.

Re: V-belts
 

Aero,

I'm wouldn't be quick to jump on the faulty belt theory- Goodyear Gatorbacks are a decent belt. Excessive belt dust is a sign that a belt will let loose, sooner than later. Like I said earlier, the results of loosing one can get ugly.

Just my $.02
Brian

Re: V-belts
 

Problem solved. Thinner series belt. Put on 12 hrs running yesterday and friday. New belts still as tight as when I put them on. Switched to gates belts,too.thanks

Re: V-belts
 

Glad to hear it. Gates is a good choice, but I'm confused with your post... did you go thicker (like a 17xxx)?

12 hours on the water sounds like a great weekend.

Cheers,
Brian

Re: V-belts
 

I had to make a small wetstone in the shape of the pulley and run the engine while holding the stone in the grove. Then I wrapped some 120 grit onto a rubber block and did the same. Polished the grooves and that solved my problems. I still have all my fingers!

Re: V-belts
 

P4- I used a thinner belt, or should I say one that fit the pulley angle better.I also used sandpaper to clean up the pulleys. Not with the motor running... Great weekend for boating in the bay.. 1-2 foot chop perfect:D

Re: V-belts
 

Your belts are slipping.

The number one reason is improper tension, the number two reason is worn pulleys. The number one reason will cause the number two reason.

Belts do not stretch much at all. Actually they will break before they stretch a lot. What happens is that they slip and the sides wear off the belt. This is the black dust you are getting. As they wear they go deeper in the pulleys which gives you the impression that they have stretch or that they are longer.

You probably need to replace your pulleys. In the industrial field that I service you have to replace the pulleys when the belts will not last like yours.

Gates makes the best belt on the market bar none. Put new pulleys on, put the proper Gates size belt on and you should not have to worry with it for several seasons.

Good luck