V-belts
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
V-belts
Pulled the '79 into the driveway today, spent a couple of leisurely hours cleaning and polishing it, backed it into the street and promptly spit out the belts. Pretty sure it had something to do with the water in the pulleys, and glad it happened right in front of the workshop, but I'm thinking it would be nice if it didn't happen again, especially in the middle of nowhere. Are some belts better than others? I have cogged belts right now. Would solid belts be better? Or worse? Anyone know of a brand of belt that my car won't spit on the street?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Just a WAG ... maybe the water allowed them to slip during cranking and then ... SUDDENLY ... they Grabbed Traction at idle or above ... and snapped.
I've used cogged belts with no issue ... but I've heard others complain.
I've used cogged belts with no issue ... but I've heard others complain.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
^^think the wet may have done em in
Always liked gatorbacks. I buy the best belts possible there is a difference even on a serp. with a tensioner.
PS Gates sucks
Always liked gatorbacks. I buy the best belts possible there is a difference even on a serp. with a tensioner.
PS Gates sucks
Last edited by cv67; May 11, 2019 at 08:47 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Belts get wet when it rains. Belts get wet when you wash the car. I think something else is going on here. Something got in between the belt and pulley, made it jump track, so to speak.
Look for ANY broken parts up front. Bolt, plastic, rubber, steel, hose clamp, piece of shroud. Anything missing?
Look for ANY broken parts up front. Bolt, plastic, rubber, steel, hose clamp, piece of shroud. Anything missing?
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; May 11, 2019 at 07:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
Belts get wet when it rains. Belts get wet when you wash the car. I think something else is going on here. Something got in between the belt and pulley, made it jump track, so to speak.
Look for ANY broken parts up front. Bolt, plastic, rubber, steel, hose clamp, piece of shroud. Anything missing?
Look for ANY broken parts up front. Bolt, plastic, rubber, steel, hose clamp, piece of shroud. Anything missing?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Old belts do stretch out... that and maybe a little bit of misalignment with the pulleys could allow this to happen. Belts can occasionally get wet when driving around in the rain if you hit a puddle or two just right so I suspect another cause as well.
Was one belt broken and the other just off? One taking the other with it is entirely possible and not at all unexpected.
Was one belt broken and the other just off? One taking the other with it is entirely possible and not at all unexpected.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
Old belts do stretch out... that and maybe a little bit of misalignment with the pulleys could allow this to happen. Belts can occasionally get wet when driving around in the rain if you hit a puddle or two just right so I suspect another cause as well.
Was one belt broken and the other just off? One taking the other with it is entirely possible and not at all unexpected.
Was one belt broken and the other just off? One taking the other with it is entirely possible and not at all unexpected.