Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Is it necessary to remove all the belts when changing the alternator belt?
| [GMCnet] Is it necessary to remove all the belts when changing the alternator belt? [message #228628] |
Wed, 06 November 2013 09:07  |
Robin Hood
Messages: 1078
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 3
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I am at my coach now, Tom. Is assisting. I have a 403 engine.
Do I need to remove any of the belts, because it is not obvious to me how
to thread just the alternator belt onto the engine and the pulleys?. It
seems to me that other belts are in the way of putting the belt on the
pulleys that they need to go on to.
--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
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| Re: [GMCnet] Is it necessary to remove all the belts when changing the alternator belt? [message #228672 is a reply to message #228647] |
Wed, 06 November 2013 15:07  |
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ljdavick
Messages: 3548
Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
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First off - Woo Hoo!
Next - Kids always know cool.
Finally - if your lovely bride wants to go wild inside the coach I have a tip from Jerry Work about freshening up the woodwork (not plastic.) I'd asked Jerry for some advise about refinishing the woodwork on my cabinet doors. I've always loved the look of louvered doors and wanted to clean them and protect them. Here is an excerpt of what he said - and a picture of a half-done door:
Without looking at your cabinets it is a bit hard to make a firm recommendation. If no PO smeared goop of some kind on them and you are dealing with the original finish, then clean them with an orange oil cleaner made for wood. I particularly like one made by Howard Products in CA. Called Feed-n-wax, is a combination of carnauba wax and bees wax in an orange oil base. The orange oil will clean off years of grime and the waxes will leave a nice hand. If the wood is not smooth and the application cloth drags, apply the first coat with a 3M pad. It will likely take more than one coat. Once the wood is nice and clean, you can use a coat of Howard's Butcher Block Conditioner (carnauba and bees wax in a mineral oil base) to make them really glow. You can find Howard's Products at some big box stores. I sell the stuff in my gallery for a bit less than the big box stores but am obviously not there to ship it!
<http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p51458-refinishing-the-woodwo.html>
That picture is just from a half-hour's work, mostly gathering rags. I'm happy with the outcome, though I haven't yet applied multiple coats, or the butcher block conditioner. I still need to design, build, buy, and install valences and blinds before I put the cabinets back up. I did just get some Panduit covers for the wire chases, so progress is being made.
That Palm Beach has something special going for it. Take good care of her!
Larry Davick
Fremont, California
A Mystery Machine
'76 (ish) Palm Beach
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robin Hood" <loxley@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 9:18:34 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Is it necessary to remove all the belts when changing the alternator belt?
Okay! The barn queen is moved and is now sitting in my driveway! Many
thanks to Tom P! The belt screamed bloody murder, I think I need to tighten
them some more. My wife is cleaning up the inside now that she has access
to power and the vacuum cleaner, and the neighborhood children all think
it's the coolest thing ever.
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Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
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| Re: [GMCnet] Is it necessary to remove all the belts when changing the alternator belt? [message #228699 is a reply to message #228692] |
Wed, 06 November 2013 19:07 |
Kingsley Coach
Messages: 2691
Registered: March 2009
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Karma: -34
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Back on track
It is NOT necessary to remove or even loosen the other belts to get the
alternator belt on.
Loop it over the fan and feed it between the other belts in the v- groove
at the bottom of the pulley system You can put a breaker bar on the crank
pulley to turn it over and feed the alt belt through or you can bump it
with the key but make sure it doesn't start...just turn over 1/8 rotation.
Feed it under the pulleys until the new alt belt is on the inside of the
other belts(close to the engine block). Then put it in position and adjust
the alt belt tension.
I've done it a 100 times on mine and others...If I ever get to another GMC
rally, Maybe I can do a demo but don't be late, it only takes about 10
minutes total !
Mike in NS
On Wed, Nov 6, 2013 at 8:45 PM, Robin Hood <loxley@gmail.com> wrote:
> Working on it. Was pretty busy day! :) unfortunately I don't have an entire
> film crew and the video is a secondary objective. I'll try to put something
> together with what I managed to shoot.
>
> On Wednesday, November 6, 2013, A. wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Where's the video?
> > --
> >
> >
>
> --
> Robin Hood
> Jackson, MS
> 2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
> 1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
> 1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
> 1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Michael Beaton
1977 Kingsley 26-11
1977 Eleganza II 26-3
Antigonish, NS
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| Re: [GMCnet] Is it necessary to remove all the belts when changing the alternator belt? [message #228713 is a reply to message #228628] |
Wed, 06 November 2013 20:28 |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
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Mike. Good call on the belt trick. I will have to give that a try. I still have a bunch of vehicles with the old V belts. When I die and get to the other side, the first thing I want to do is meet the guy who invented the serpentine belt. Easy install and self adjusting. They have also proven to be quite dependable, similar to the HEI ignition upgrade. I remember both were predicted to fail.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
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| Re: [GMCnet] Is it necessary to remove all the belts when changing the alternator belt? [message #228736 is a reply to message #228699] |
Thu, 07 November 2013 03:25 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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| Kingsley Coach wrote on Wed, 06 November 2013 19:07 |
Back on track
It is NOT necessary to remove or even loosen the other belts to get the
alternator belt on.
Loop it over the fan and feed it between the other belts in the v- groove
at the bottom of the pulley system You can put a breaker bar on the crank
pulley to turn it over and feed the alt belt through or you can bump it
with the key but make sure it doesn't start...just turn over 1/8 rotation.
Feed it under the pulleys until the new alt belt is on the inside of the
other belts(close to the engine block). Then put it in position and adjust
the alt belt tension.
I've done it a 100 times on mine and others...If I ever get to another GMC
rally, Maybe I can do a demo but don't be late, it only takes about 10
minutes total !
Mike in NS
|
I guess I'm dense. I have read this at least 4 times and still do not quite understand this. I guess I need to see this in person or a picture of where the new belt is located prior to slightly turning the engine. I thought I understood and then someone else stated that this procedure is not necessary if you have a double pulley alternator. I thought the main problem was getting the alternator belt past the AC belt.
I'm really confused.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Is it necessary to remove all the belts when changing the alternator belt? [message #228753 is a reply to message #228748] |
Thu, 07 November 2013 09:14 |
Robin Hood
Messages: 1078
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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Wait wait wait... you mean the alternator belt just gets... well.... SUCKED
through the big pulley when you bump the engine? It takes a ride underneath
the AC belt on the big pulley, without causing the AC belt to jump off?
I would think it would damage one or more of the belts involved?
But it must work or you wouldn't have brought it up... but that's far out
and crazy, man. :) I'd love to make a youtube video of such a thing.
On Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 8:25 AM, Kingsley Coach <kingsleygmc@gmail.com>wrote:
> Ken
>
> It's certainly nothing I invented <g> When I was a kid I hung out at
> service stations instead of going to school. A guy by the name of Harold
> Jewers showed me that trick.
> Since we can't do it from the top on a GMC, loop the new belt over the fan
> blades. Fit the remaining belt between the outermost pully v and the belt
> on it. Bump the engine. Then the next pulley.etc
>
> Keep the New belt free and clear between each successful V clearing
>
> You end up with the new belt dangling on the water pump shaft and ready to
> be put in place and snugged up.
>
> Like I said, if I make it to another rally, I'll trade alt belt
> installations for beer ! <VBG>
>
> Does this make any more sense now?
>
> Mike in NS
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 7:44 AM, Ken Burton <n9cv@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > I thought I understood but now I'm confused. If I had it in front of me
> I
> > probably could figure it out. Let's see if Mike has any more
> information.
> > --
> > Ken Burton - N9KB
> > 76 Palm Beach
> > Hebron, Indiana
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Michael Beaton
> 1977 Kingsley 26-11
> 1977 Eleganza II 26-3
> Antigonish, NS
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
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| Re: [GMCnet] Is it necessary to remove all the belts when changing the alternator belt? [message #228755 is a reply to message #228713] |
Thu, 07 November 2013 09:26 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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| Steve Adams wrote on Wed, 06 November 2013 21:28 |
Mike. Good call on the belt trick. I will have to give that a try. I still have a bunch of vehicles with the old V belts. When I die and get to the other side, the first thing I want to do is meet the guy who invented the serpentine belt. Easy install and self adjusting. They have also proven to be quite dependable, similar to the HEI ignition upgrade. I remember both were predicted to fail.
|
Steve,
There is is problem with serpentine belts that is serious. The interchange numbers are often bed. In all circumstances where I find these belts in marine applications, I advise the owner to purchase and install a replacement when the age approaches five years. This comes with a recommendation to save that old belt because it fits and works.
One owner had to try four different belts before he got one that fit his truck. This included one ordered by number from the manufacturer.
You should also realize that the life of even the aramid (Kevlar) core belts still have the same bonding and age issue that our tires have.
Doing the jam the belt through is an old trick, the problem is that it can often damage the other belt(s). But if you are a job-hour line mechanic, it is a good bet that the other belts will at last through the warranty period.
By the by, Inch Wide serpentine belts are great at running high load alternators. Where a standard V-belt is limited to about 100amp and is actually in trouble over 80, the wide serpentine can run 200 and the spring tensioner will take up the stretch caused by the heat in the belt.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] Is it necessary to remove all the belts when changing the alternator belt? [message #228757 is a reply to message #228753] |
Thu, 07 November 2013 09:36 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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| Robin Hood wrote on Thu, 07 November 2013 10:14 |
Wait wait wait... you mean the alternator belt just gets... well.... SUCKED through the big pulley when you bump the engine? It takes a ride underneath the AC belt on the big pulley, without causing the AC belt to jump off?
I would think it would damage one or more of the belts involved?
But it must work or you wouldn't have brought it up... but that's far out and crazy, man.  I'd love to make a youtube video of such a thing.
--
Robin Hood
|
Robin,
Yes, Yes and Yes it does, but not enough to matter in most cases. On our coaches, you have to do the same at the water pump.
A Very Important thing to do if you plan to do try this is to do something to prevent the engine from starting. This can be done by pulling the coil wire out of the distributor if you have one or pulling the power lead from an HEI. If you miss this trick and the engine starts when you bump it, it can be very bad.....
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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