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| [GMCnet] Belt Tensioner [message #198053] |
Sun, 10 February 2013 17:56  |
Tom Whitton
Messages: 235
Registered: February 2004
Location: Paducah, KY
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Appreciate the suggestions on the belt tensioner, particularly the one from Gene advising, "whatever you use to set the belt tension (a 2x4 - or a tensioner ;>) the bolts in the device (alternator, ac pump, ps pump) are what hold the
belt tight, not the tensioning device." That makes sense. Belts do elongate. To compensate, spring loaded tensioners come out now on most new vehicles. My other "tinker toy" is a 25-year old '88 Fiero GT. Fieros did not have automatic tensioners installed at the factory. Similar to the GMC, you can set the tension on the alternator belt and it might not be long before the belt starts squealing again. Here's the retrofit I installed to solve the problem: http://home.windstream.net/dodgerunner/Fiero1_files/BracketInfo.html
It's not a big deal but apparently, nothing similar is available for our motorhomes.
Tom Whitton
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| Re: [GMCnet] Belt Tensioner [message #198121 is a reply to message #198053] |
Mon, 11 February 2013 12:22  |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
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Tom,
I'm telling you it will not work unless you have a flat belt.
On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 3:56 PM, Tom Whitton <tomwhitton@bellsouth.net>wrote:
> Appreciate the suggestions on the belt tensioner, particularly the one
> from Gene advising, "whatever you use to set the belt tension (a 2x4 - or a
> tensioner ;>) the bolts in the device (alternator, ac pump, ps pump) are
> what hold the
> belt tight, not the tensioning device." That makes sense. Belts do
> elongate. To compensate, spring loaded tensioners come out now on most new
> vehicles. My other "tinker toy" is a 25-year old '88 Fiero GT. Fieros did
> not have automatic tensioners installed at the factory. Similar to the GMC,
> you can set the tension on the alternator belt and it might not be long
> before the belt starts squealing again. Here's the retrofit I installed to
> solve the problem:
> http://home.windstream.net/dodgerunner/Fiero1_files/BracketInfo.html
> It's not a big deal but apparently, nothing similar is available for our
> motorhomes.
> Tom Whitton
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] Belt Tensioner [message #198122 is a reply to message #198053] |
Mon, 11 February 2013 13:18 |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
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I seem to remember that some folks were experimenting with serpentine belt conversions (ie using 'flat' belts), but I seem to remember that they didn't work out very well.
Perhaps someone has revisited this, but I think properly sized and tensioned belts should continue to work, and the available screw type tensioner designs should make setting the belt tension a bit easier.
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Belt Tensioner [message #198139 is a reply to message #198122] |
Mon, 11 February 2013 16:51 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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George,
Bobby Moore, JR Slaten, and I have put many, many miles on serpentine belt
arrangements. None of us have had any significant problems. Leigh
Harrison sold quite a few conversion kits. Some of his customers had
overheating problems because of running the water pump backward. The 3 of
us never did, but when Leigh designed and had reverse flow pumps
manufactured, I ran some of the prototypes. The first two had problems,
one of which put me beside the road in NC. He fixed those and provided me
with a final version which I never installed. Later he found a production
reverse-flow pump, which I understand he now uses.
When I replaced the 455 with the Cad500, I designed a 2-serpentine belt
system which has worked perfectly for me. By using two belts I was able to
drive the water pump in the correct direction. I would NOT like to go back
to V-belts, especially with the current narrow belt problems.
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com
On Mon, Feb 11, 2013 at 2:18 PM, George Rudawsky wrote:
>
>
> I seem to remember that some folks were experimenting with serpentine belt
> conversions (ie using 'flat' belts), but I seem to remember that they
> didn't work out very well.
>
> Perhaps someone has revisited this, but I think properly sized and
> tensioned belts should continue to work, and the available screw type
> tensioner designs should make setting the belt tension a bit easier.
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Belt Tensioner [message #198148 is a reply to message #198053] |
Mon, 11 February 2013 17:45 |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Karma: 0
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Glad to hear that folks are having good luck with the serpentine belts, because that seems to be the current wave of the future, and automatic tensioners are nice and the belts are relatively easy to replace. I couldn't remember who had developed the serpentine system, but it was Leigh Harrison.
Now that you mention it, I think it was the water pump issues that I had heard about. Keeping these coaches on the road will continue to require alternatives as original equipment becomes unavailable. For my old Porsches, I have to deal with more and more NLA issues as the manufacturer has little interest in ramping up production for 60 year old models! Luckily, there is a great support system like this one, and independent vendors that are continuing to make seemingly obsolete parts available once again.
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Belt Tensioner [message #198154 is a reply to message #198053] |
Mon, 11 February 2013 18:58 |
rickmike
Messages: 252
Registered: September 2011
Location: United States
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WOW, a fellow GMC and Fiero fan!!!
The 87 and 88 4 cyl Fieros had automatic belt tensioners.
Rick M.
| Tom Whitton wrote on Sun, 10 February 2013 18:56 |
Appreciate the suggestions on the belt tensioner, particularly the one from Gene advising, "whatever you use to set the belt tension (a 2x4 - or a tensioner ;>) the bolts in the device (alternator, ac pump, ps pump) are what hold the
belt tight, not the tensioning device." That makes sense. Belts do elongate. To compensate, spring loaded tensioners come out now on most new vehicles. My other "tinker toy" is a 25-year old '88 Fiero GT. Fieros did not have automatic tensioners installed at the factory. Similar to the GMC, you can set the tension on the alternator belt and it might not be long before the belt starts squealing again. Here's the retrofit I installed to solve the problem: http://home.windstream.net/dodgerunner/Fiero1_files/BracketInfo.html
It's not a big deal but apparently, nothing similar is available for our motorhomes.
Tom Whitton
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1974 26' Canyonlands
aka "The General"
Clinton, TN
[Updated on: Mon, 11 February 2013 19:24] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Belt Tensioner [message #198169 is a reply to message #198148] |
Mon, 11 February 2013 22:12 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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George,
Just to be sure there's no confusion: The serpentine belt Bobby Moore and
JR Slaten developed, a near copy of which I have, was independent of Leigh
Harrison's design.
Ken H.
On Mon, Feb 11, 2013 at 6:45 PM, George Rudawsky <GeorgeRud@aol.com> wrote:
>
> Glad to hear that folks are having good luck with the serpentine belts,
> because that seems to be the current wave of the future, and automatic
> tensioners are nice and the belts are relatively easy to replace. I
> couldn't remember who had developed the serpentine system, but it was Leigh
> Harrison.
>
> Now that you mention it, I think it was the water pump issues that I had
> heard about. Keeping these coaches on the road will continue to require
> alternatives as original equipment becomes unavailable. For my old
> Porsches, I have to deal with more and more NLA issues as the manufacturer
> has little interest in ramping up production for 60 year old models!
> Luckily, there is a great support system like this one, and independent
> vendors that are continuing to make seemingly obsolete parts available once
> again.
> --
> George Rudawsky
> Chicago, IL
> 75 Palm Beach
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Belt Tensioner [message #198185 is a reply to message #198053] |
Tue, 12 February 2013 01:32 |
noi
Messages: 293
Registered: October 2010
Location: South of Fremont
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Greetings:
Just curious and seeking enlightenment here….
Why would an automatic belt tensioner “NOT” work with V-Belts?
Thanks for the info!
Carl P.
76 Birchaven
South of Fremont
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