BELT PROBLEMS PLEASE HELP.....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 341
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From: macon, ga
BELT PROBLEMS PLEASE HELP.....
I have a 454 with a/c and every time i hit 3500+ rpm (which isn't hard with 3.70 gears) i break the a/c belt. the only way i can run the belt is from crank to water pump to A/C compressor. the belt is tight but as it goes from the compressor to the crank when the car is running it bounces a lot. this leads me to think that the belt is rubing or hitting the frame. what i'm wondering is ther a better way to run the belt, or do i need a idler pully to keep the belt away from the frame. if so does any one know the part number or if i can get one off of another car or could my problems be solved by buying a slightly smaller belt and pulling it tighter. thanks, i want to enjoy my a/c but the speed that im going through belt i dont think i can afford it.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: BELT PROBLEMS PLEASE HELP..... (ykp53)
So you're throwing the belt when you hit about 3000RPMs? Will it throw the belt if you crack the throttle to 3000RPMs in neutral? If it's throwing the belt you either don't have the pulleys lined up 100% correctly or the belt is not tight enough. Try going with a slightly smaller belt and tighten it up good and tight, then see what happens.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 341
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From: macon, ga
Re: BELT PROBLEMS PLEASE HELP..... (bence13_33)
actually i worded that wrong. i have thrown one, and broken 2. it dosnt matter if im in park or not the belt will not stay on. the pullies are lined up. if you run the car for a while the belt get so hot you can barely touch it. bence13-13 you should understand how hard it is to keep it below 3000rpm. are you enjoying you 454?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: BELT PROBLEMS PLEASE HELP..... (ykp53)
You didn't mention the year of the car and wether it was an R4 or A6 compressor, and wether or not you have that metal hose protector the later sharks came with....it makes an annoying tapping-ringing noise at idle and reasonable speeds with that long belt on the slack side flapping around a lot, and tightening it don't help....
an R4 is a very irregular load on the belt, so it vibrates a lot, I don't know what to do about it....I suspect you are running an R4....
the A6 did sometimes come with a large diameter pulley on front larger than the compressor diameter, that allowed lower RPM's obviously....
I know you should be able to go 3500 engine rpm's all day without affecting the compressor, wonder if the a/c system is up to snuff??? not locking/loading the compressor??? overfilled with R134??? resulting in too much head pressure....???
GENE
an R4 is a very irregular load on the belt, so it vibrates a lot, I don't know what to do about it....I suspect you are running an R4....
the A6 did sometimes come with a large diameter pulley on front larger than the compressor diameter, that allowed lower RPM's obviously....
I know you should be able to go 3500 engine rpm's all day without affecting the compressor, wonder if the a/c system is up to snuff??? not locking/loading the compressor??? overfilled with R134??? resulting in too much head pressure....???
GENE
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
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From: San Francisco, CA
Re: BELT PROBLEMS PLEASE HELP..... (ykp53)
As someone who has had a compressor seize and eat all my belts last year here is my guess:
If the belt is getting as hot as you say, my guess is that the clutch on bearings in the compressor pully are binding. Turn the compressor pulley by hand with the belt off and a/c off (car off!) It should spin nice and quietly and freely. If not, there is your problem.
If the belt is getting as hot as you say, my guess is that the clutch on bearings in the compressor pully are binding. Turn the compressor pulley by hand with the belt off and a/c off (car off!) It should spin nice and quietly and freely. If not, there is your problem.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 341
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From: macon, ga
Re: BELT PROBLEMS PLEASE HELP..... (mrvette)
sorry.. its a 77, with a "new" r4 rebuilt compressor, which turns freely by hand. when the A/C is off it will not throw a belt at any rpm. when the clutch engages as the rpm get higher you can see the belt and the compressor slip for a second or two. on the return path (lower side) at idle with the belt tight there is about 1" to 1-1/2" bounce in it. when everything is shut off you can only press down on the belt about a 1/4". im not for sure about this metal hose protector you are talking about? i can shorten the length of this belt by running it dirctly off of the water pump, but that means that my only other belt will have to run from crank, waterpump, alternator. i figured that the compressor needed to come off of the crank. should i change my belt config?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
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From: San Francisco, CA
Re: BELT PROBLEMS PLEASE HELP..... (ykp53)
But if the belt gets hot to the touch, it seems that there must be friction either due to a binding pulley on the compressor or an angle, and thus rubbing of the belt. :confused:
