| shelf life of belts [message #264885] |
Mon, 27 October 2014 06:31  |
skip2
Messages: 544
Registered: September 2011
Location: Winter Haven,FL (center o...
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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After 3 years I'm still finding things the PO left in the beast, I found an original GM parts 405600 alternator belt in original cardboard tube, never been installed. I know they are not available from GM, so how long has it been since GM discontinued this part., and has anyone ever heard of the shelf life of belts, it has no signs of age, dry rotting or cracking. Is it worth the risk using since I imagine it will be a perfect fit or should it be hung on the wall as a museum piece.
Skip Hartline
74 Canyon Lands, FiTech,
3.7 FD LSD, Manny Tranny,
Springfield Distributor,
2001 Chevy Tracker Ragtop Towd
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| Re: [GMCnet] shelf life of belts [message #264908 is a reply to message #264907] |
Mon, 27 October 2014 11:34  |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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I had been given some GMC belts. They were new in the sleeve and looked fine. I stored them in my pod. When I had to use one I installed it. Five miles down the road it blew apart.
Emery Stora
> On Oct 27, 2014, at 10:30 AM, Terry wrote:
>
> If the belt has been in a clean, dry, and dark storage place; like Harry said, it should be good. It should feel nice and smooth in your fingers and
> not snag any loose weave fabric if it is dragged across it. You might want to take it out of the sleeve, put in the sunlight or another warm place for
> an hour, then rotate it 90 degrees to straighten out the bends and put it back in the sleeve. Even if it is a little stiff, it is still a better spare
> than pantyhose! :lol: It will also give you a size example to measure at the parts store, if it is indeed the correct size for your setup. Costs you
> nothing to carry it with you.
> --
> Terry Kelpien
> ASE Master Technician
> 73 Glacier 260
> Smithfield, Va.
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| Re: [GMCnet] shelf life of belts [message #264961 is a reply to message #264909] |
Mon, 27 October 2014 23:55 |
Bullitthead
Messages: 1411
Registered: November 2013
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Heat would dry them out for sure, and time is one of the worst enemies of rubber based products. Chemicals in the environment will also degrade rubber and plastic products very effectively. Sometimes it's just other plastic or rubber products in the vicinity. My dad lost a whole batch of drive belts for the reel to reel tape deck just because there were some other belts made of a different material being stored in the same cabinet. And it was not a sealed cabinet, just the entertainment center in the living room. My coach had some new belts stored under the dinette seat, and the carpet had some kind of reaction with them and they were dried, rough enough to cut my hand, and stuck to the carpet! So now I just carry them (in a paper bag)as an example of the correct size and a possible side of the road fix. As Emery said, they might only go a few miles, but that might get me to a parts store or at least off of the side of the interstate. The way things seem to work out, if I bought a set of new ones and kept them in the coach, the belts on the engine would never break because Murphy would know I was prepared. Something much worse would fail first.
Terry Kelpien
ASE Master Technician
73 Glacier 260
Smithfield, Va.
[Updated on: Mon, 27 October 2014 23:56] Report message to a moderator |
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It will also give you a size example to measure at the parts store, if it is indeed the correct size for your setup. Costs you nothing to carry it with you.