Gone through 2 Fan Belts in 800 miles

msmaron

msmaron

Well-known member
i have gone through now 2 fan belts in 800 miles.. Here is a pic of the way the belt is lying in the fan belt pulley and you can see below how it is fraying already.. Any suggestions on this and why it is happening. I am getting the belts from Mike's A-fordable. If you click on the photo it will enlarge and you can see it more clearly
 

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Mark, you could have gotten a bad batch of belts. The first one I got from Mikes lasted about 400 miles, and shreded, it looked fine for a while, then disintegrated, I changed it out with a new one from a fellow club member (because I stupidly left my spare at home while cleaning up the car for the drive that day, THANKS again PHRED) and it's been on the car for a few years since. just my dos centavos, Good seein ya at Model A day. Harry K
 
Here you go Tom.. and you can see how it is frayed
 

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I can't see the fraying from the photo ... but the belt looks like it is riding very high in the fan pulley. Couple days (weeks?) ago there was some chatter about aluminum fans needing their pulleys to be turned down so the belt would ride correctly. Could that be the problem?
As for the alternator, part of the conversion for the Model A is to install a different pulley so that it is in line with the waterpump and drive pulley. I never thought much of that, as the alternators on my A's seem to spin without distroying the belt ... but maybe yours didn't get that fix.
As an aside, we had five or six Model A's in Galena and Iowa last summer. One car lost a belt. 'Mongst us, we had FIVE spares! Sorry to admit that I wasn't carrying one. But, with friends like that a guy can go a long way naked -- in terms of spare parts !!!!
 
Mark - I am going to make a couple of guesses here, and you can take them or not. The belt is riding higher (or right at the pulley rim) in the fan-belt pulley than it does on mine. Is there any kind of ridge on that pulley?

The alternator pulley looks well defined and "sharp" on its edges, and the belt is right at that edge. Would it be causing a problem?

Alignment looks to be exceptable from the pictures. I wonder if there is any roughness on the belt surface of any of the three pulleys?

Finally, like was mentioned above these belts may be from a bad batch. Myself, I purchase my belts from the local "Farm & Home" store. They typically cater to the farming crowd and won't stay in business long not carrying good quality parts (IMHO).

Keep looking and asking questions; I am sure the problem will get figured out.
 
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Ron/IA said:
Mark - I am going to make a couple of guesses here, and you can take them or not. The belt is riding higher (or right at the pulley rim) in the fan-belt pulley that it does on mine. Is there any kind of ridge on that pulley?

NO There is no ridge actually a soft edge

The alternator pulley looks well defined and "sharp on its edges, and the belt is right at that edge. Would it be causing a problem?

Soft Edge as mentioned

Alignment looks to be exceptable from the pictures. I wonder if there is any roughness on the belt surface of any of the three pulleys?

Finally, like was mentioned above these belts may be from a bad batch. Myself, I purchase my belts fro the local "Farm & Home" store. They typically cater to the farming crowd and won't stay in business long not carrying good quality parts (IMHO).

I am starting to think this also, BUT i did buy them at different time but then again what does that matter really

Keep looking and asking questions; I am sure the problem will get figured out.
Click to expand...

I hope so, i have a long drive to French Lick and dont want to go through them all
 
A lot of things used the same belt as the Model A. My 1949 Chevy truck and I believe many Farmall tractors use the same belt. So if the local store can't look up Model A have them look up a modern 1949 Chevy. :)
 
I went through 3 fan belts in a short amount of time. I finally went with a clogged(spelling?) belt. Gates TR22426
 
Just my observation the fan pulley appears to be tipped ahead in the belt and the pulley on the alternator appears to be tipped back. How much tension do you have on the belt should be able to push the belt between the alternator and water pump at least 1-1/2" to 2" you do not need all the tension on the belt just to turn an alternator like our newer cars with serpentine belts. current mileage on my tudor belt is 30,000 miles and no sign of wear My two cents worth Gord. B by the Bay
 
I use NAPA belts #B-41. If you just go into a NAPA store and ask for a Model A belt they will sell you a cogged belt, but those make a scritching noise I don't like.
 
just in case I wasn't clear - the #B-41 isn't cogged. It took me awhile to figure out that the B-41 was the right belt. It's actually an industrial belt - like from a lawn mower.
 
I use the Gates TR 22426 and it fits perfect with an alternator. It is a truck and bus belt so it should last.Most auto parts sell Gates.
 
Mine was picked up at the NAPA and it is general purpose lawn mover belt B41 and it is green in color. Go figure :) Looks very nice matching the green engine.
 
IS this the BELT in question..... See corrected NUMBER
 

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Larry, a B-41 NAPA belt is a "fractional horse power" (FHP) belt and not meant to be used on an automobile application. If you call NAPA and ask for the correct belt for a
1930 Model A, they can order the correct belt for you. The same belt is for all years of the Model A, but NAPA'S data base lists the 1930. If your local dealer doesn't know what you are talking about, call the home office. This "B" belt might account for your screeching noise. The belt will work as an emergency belt, but don't count on it for the long haul. Depending on how you use your car, you may or may not have a long belt life. When I first got into industrial sales, I had lunch with the Gates rep, and he drummed into my thick skull the differences in belts----angle, degree, and all that good stuff. NOTE: one of the things you have to be aware of about NAPA is that they sell a lot of items for different applications, though many folks automatically assume that if you buy a belt from them it is going to be for an automobile---wrong!
The number of people who buy FHP belts for their automobile "Ought to be enough to scare you to death"----as Walter Cronkite might say.

Jack
 
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