Fan Belt

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Sep 28, 2023 | 10:25 AM

RTT

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Apr 2017

Posts: 1,391

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From: COSMOS

Fan Belt

I think i asked this already , I have a V - grooved looking pulley from fan to alternator with a NOTCHED belt

I am thinking a solid belt belt with no cutout for the notches that are on a notched belt would be sturdier/reliable

Do the notches serve an important purpose I am not seeing ???
I think I have seen more solid belts than notched belts........

...but I am just a novice........

Oct 1, 2023 | 01:02 AM

RTT

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Apr 2017

Posts: 1,391

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From: COSMOS

While belt & fan off , is there other maintenance items I can/should address

Oct 1, 2023 | 07:49 AM

FuzzFace2

FTE Legend

Joined: Nov 2015

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From: Angier, NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTT

While belt & fan off , is there other maintenance items I can/should address

First I dont see what the difference is in the 2 belts they both do the same job just as well so dont worry.
BTW some had the cuts on the outside, others on the inside and some none at all.

Also why was the fan & belt, more so the fan, pulled?
Belt I can see as it was dry, hard & cracked but you should be able to get the belts off & on around the fan by slipping it between the blades.

If the water pump shaft dose not have play and it is not leaking I cant see anything else that needs to be done.
Maybe clean and mark the timing mark for TDC seeing it may be easier to get at it.
Dave ----

Oct 1, 2023 | 10:22 AM

tbear853

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From: The Shenandoah Valley

In a perfectly straight line pull, a smooth belt might be a hair stronger, but these belts go around corners like "pulleys", and a belt's real strength is built into the unseen inner cords, not the outer rubber friction surface so much. A toothed belt will compress and stretch the outer rubber covering less going around pulleys than a smooth belt will ... and a toothed belt likely runs cooler too. That alternator pulley is a pretty tight turn.

Generally, smooth belts are a little cheaper to buy is my experience.

I don't think the notches are cut, more like molded in.

Does it make a difference .... maybe not, but I've never had a notched or toothed belt fail. I too fish my belts off around the fan blades with no removal. As to water pumps, like said if not leaking and not loose, you have a known good one.

Oct 1, 2023 | 11:36 AM

davelj

Tuned

Joined: Aug 2019

Posts: 287

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From: SE Texas

The belts with inside notches are designed to wrap better around small pulleys like your alternator providing more grip and less slip. The ones with outside notches are a gimmick that is supposed to run cooler. I've never seen any real benefit to them, myself.

Oct 2, 2023 | 12:12 PM

RTT

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Apr 2017

Posts: 1,391

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From: COSMOS

Thank-you all

Several days ago , after no response I did some research & found the notches supposedly helps belt run cooler & more efficiently ( grip better ) .
I took fan off to work on fan shroud

.
Belt has small crack at almost every notch , but appears strong . Will replace to be safe

My neighbor replaced his belt on a 76 chevy van & it cost him $32.00 . Scared me

...
My

belt looks to b $12.00 or so.........

Big relief.......

Oct 2, 2023 | 04:58 PM

FuzzFace2

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Joined: Nov 2015

Posts: 30,912

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From: Angier, NC

If the $32 was for just the belt I would say he got ripped off as the 76 van should still have V belts not surp.
Now if that was belt and install then that was way under the $$$ in my book.

I forgot you were fixing the shroud

Dave ----