General Tech Fan Belt Deterioration

[KVH]

This belt is only 3 years old, and has less than 5000 miles on it. Am I misaligned, or is this just a bad belt?

 

[NutmegCT]

If that belt is only three years old, and wasn't used on a Sherman tank ...

yep - it's a bad belt!

 

[KVH]

Makes me wonder what quality is out there. I’m going to try a new Bando belt, a clogged one, if I can find one. Moss owns Rimmer? Got to wonder if all the changes mean more quality.

 

[Gliderman8]

Well, it has been hot where you live. Is it possible the extreme heat has dried the belt?

 

[KVH]

I keep it garaged. But I suppose it’s possible.

 

[TR Tom]

I would check out what Roadster Factory is offering. Historically they have been less likely to sell junk. Is that a stock thick belt or one for a thin belt conversion? Hard to tell from the pictures.

 

[KVH]

It’s the stock wide belt. I just pulled it back from the garbage and noted I can bend and crack it anywhere. It’s just all brittle junk.

I wish it would cool down where I am in Arizona. I love driving these cars, but to others on the road with their windows up and their air-conditioning blasting, they must think old guys like me have lost their minds.

(I say that after having spent two hours last night, chocking my wheels and tires, loosening the engine mounts, loosening the radiator hold- down nuts and bolts, sliding a jack under the front of the oil pan, jacking the car up several inches (the spring relief takes a couple) just to create enough space between the damper extension and the steering rack, so that I could slide a new fan belt through and go for a drive in 110 degree heat)

PS I had a spare belt, but I’m still ordering a new one. I’ll probably look for a Bando.

 

[NutmegCT]

Can you show it to guys where you bought the belt, and get their take?

I wonder if your belt came from a bad batch ... or maybe wasn't as "new" as it was described at the store.

Tom M.

 

[KVH]

Can you show it to guys where you bought the belt, and get their take?

I wonder if your belt came from a bad batch ... or maybe wasn't as "new" as it was described at the store.

Tom M.

I really don’t know which of the few remaining suppliers (at the time) sold it to me. I’m reluctant to guess, of course. I try to patronize all the suppliers, and will spread my orders around more since learning Moss closed Goleta. YouTube has some interesting videos of really cheap counterfeit fan belts being sold in the marketplace. Anyway, I feel lucky it’s not a bigger issue..

 

[poolboy]

Get a Gates belt from NAPA

 

[NutmegCT]

Wondering - when did you buy the belt that failed? and what's the manufacturer of the belt?

 

[tr6nitjulius]

Agree with poolboy due to 65 amp alt needed larger belt than oem instead of guessing/measuring took old belt to napa for on the countertop visual size/width match gates belt