Shredded Fan Belts

**JohnE** · 1st August 2007, 06:33 AM

I have searched th forums and haven;t found one quite what i am looking for.
A couple of weeks ago, got about 5 kms down the road, the screeching started and i promptly stopped.
From the look of it, the main belt gave up and was in shreds it slipped back onto teh aircon drive belt, pushing it back, onto the compressor, ripping the clutch wires out, and putting a hole in the airbleed line from the thermostat. No probs the veh was still cold.

Pulled into a mates place into his carport as it was pouring rain ,( the best part about being rural , try that in the city) rang the cook and got into town a bought new belts, water hose and a cup of coffee. A 5 min job, no probs.

Now a few weeks later, I have noticed the back of the main belt is sort of getting thinner( can't think of another word to describe it.) The size details and the makers name are worn off and there are tiny bits of rubber all over the rear section, like what comes off a tye on a severe burnout.( not the ribbed bit) The aircon belt writting is still readable.

My question after all that, is where and why is it wearing so, the only two points are the tensioner and the p/s pulley, they are both fine, spin easily, appear to be all lined up correctly.
Would it be the brand of belt it isn;t a dayco.

john

am off this morning to get another belt just in case.

**Redback** · 1st August 2007, 06:55 AM

Too much tension, or end of the pully shaft bent causing a wobble which cause the pully too rub back and forth on the belt or bad quality belt.

These are guesses.

Baz.

**JohnE** · 1st August 2007, 07:04 AM

Thats a thought, though the only obvious thing i noticed is the tensioner puller jumps up and down a bit, and thats on idle, would that be it? Don't know
The tensioner marks haven't lined up yet, but are close.
Am thinking more on the lines of bad quality belt. As some of the search stuff i found all recommended genuine or dayco belts, I was at the mercy of what they had and it wasnt dayco.

john

**p38arover** · 1st August 2007, 07:32 AM

It sounds like the tensioner pulley is canted over.

See (I think - I can't see the pics at work) http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php't=36136

Ron

**JohnE** · 1st August 2007, 07:59 AM

Ron
that is interesting,
have just run out and taken some photos,

here are the two belts, notice the difference, just noticed the a/c belt has made in usa on it

here is the pulley, it looks worst than yours

john

**JohnE** · 1st August 2007, 08:03 AM

just noticed the 'sludge' didn't see it yesterday, just went out and wiped my finger on it its black and gooey, that top hose looks like it has been leaking onto the pulley.
ron your a genius, i think the tensioner may be the culprit.There seems to be a lot of gap between the rubber and the base.
what do you think?

john

**BigJon** · 1st August 2007, 08:13 AM

It is not uncommon for the tensioner to cause belt shredding. If in doubt, change it.

**p38arover** · 1st August 2007, 08:39 AM

I can't see pics when logged on from work so I can't comment, John.

Sorry, mate.

Ron

**JohnE** · 1st August 2007, 09:19 AM

Thanks ron,
from your link and the descriptions, and looking again at the photos and BigJons suggestion.
and redbacks back and forth suggestion,
Now I strongly suspect the culprit to be the tensioner, it is the only variable on the two smooth wheels that is likely to cause any problem. It appears now the rubber dampener has worn enough to cause side to side movement in turn causing the 'buffing' of the belt.
i have ordered a new one, it will be here tomorow.

john

mcrover · 1st August 2007, 01:45 PM

Mine did exactly the same thing even as far as taking out the wires in the aircon compressor.

The tensioner is the culprit, change that and put a good belt on and it will be good for years again.

I was lazy and didnt take the pulley off the aircon compressor, I just soldered them up and shrink wrapped them, still working well 2 years later.

Mine happened on my nature strip just after returning from Toolangy and breaking my steering box and that was expensive.

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