Fan belt when using alternator?

J

josh1331

Senior Member
?iF USING AN ALTERNATOR, SHOULD A MODERN FAN BELT BE BETTER TO USE AS OPPOSE TO MODEL A BELT? iF SO , WHAT DO YOU GUYS RECOMMEND PLEASE?
JOSH
 
jb: THE REASON i ASK IS THAT MY FAN BELT WAS FRAYED BADLY, PART OF IT WORN DOWN TO ONE HALF THICKNESS?? AND IT SNAPPED OFF AT HOME , THANK GOD. THINK I MIGHT HAVE AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WITH PULLEYS SINCE i PUT ON ALTERNATOR ,IT APPEARS THAT WAY LOOKING AT IT AND CHECKING IT WITH A YARD STICK AND PUTTING THE FAN BELT ON THE WATER PUMP AND ENGINE PULLEY IT DOESN'T SEEM TO LINE UP PROPERLY. I'LL DO MORE CHECKING TOMORROW. ANYBODY HAVE ALIGNMENT PULLEY PROBLEMS WITH ALTERNATORS??/jOSH
 
If any of your pulleys are rusty that will eat belts quick.

A straight round rod is better for checking alignment --hold in pulley groove and rotate to other pulley.

There have been other posts about alternator alignment and belt problems ---most all the belt problems also have the word "alternator" in the same paragraph
 
Make sure the belt is TIGHT! Standard Model A belts when using a generator are way too loose for an alternator. Running the belt too loose causes it to slip a great deal and will eat a belt up in a big hurry. Once I discovered this I stopped eating belts with the alternator.
 
it is hard to get the belt tight enuft not to sllip with the two inch pully that came with your alt. i got a 3" pully at a auto electric shop and have over 25k on the belt. [more belt in the pully and don't need to be as tight but need a few more rpm's to get it to charge]
 
My belt was starting to slip and the alternator adjuster bracket was at the end of its travel range, so I got a 42" belt from Napa. This an inch shorter than the stock 43" belt. The Napa part number is 5L420W
 
I would think a notched belt would be better for the small diameter alternator pulley also if you make the belt two tight you will eventually wear out the water pump pulley. Just my two cents.
 
I asked about a notched belt but the counterman at Napa claimed that it wasn't available in the required width.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top