6 rib blower belt

[rojizostang]

My vehicle has started eating the blower belt. The rib closest to the radiator has completely worn off. This didn't start until after the ati super balancer install. It appears the pulley on the balancer is machined out of spec, apparently causing it to be out of alignment with all the other pulleys. There are no shims installed behind his balancer, and none are supposed to be. If shims were installed making the rear (blower belt) line up better, then the front belt would be misaligned, which is permanently mated to the balancer itself. There is no detectable issue with the front (non blower) belt.

Will a 6 rib x 82 inch (2085mm) regular serpentine belt, which costs around $30 suffice as a replacement, or is the more expensive roush belt an verifiable improvement/necessity over say a Dayton belt, or something like that?

The roush belt is about $75 and has to be shipped, where as the Dayton belt is available locally and of course at a great cost savings.

Oh this is the Roush stage II tvs 2300 blower

My intention is to install a new belt and see if this one gets eaten also, before removing the ati balancer and installing the original balancer and pulley set up.

 

[702GT]

If you're throwing a belt on as a test mule, I'd buy the cheapest belt that fits and throw it on. There isn't a belt in production at any price that will take misaligned grooves and not wear out prematurely.

You should contact ATI and speak with a tech about that damper, if you haven't already. If it was bought within the last 90's (proof with invoice) they warranty their products. Regardless, I'm sure they'll help you out.

 

[rojizostang]

If you're throwing a belt on as a test mule, I'd buy the cheapest belt that fits and throw it on. There isn't a belt in production at any price that will take misaligned grooves and not wear out prematurely.

You should contact ATI and speak with a tech about that damper, if you haven't already. If it was bought within the last 90's (proof with invoice) they warranty their products. Regardless, I'm sure they'll help you out.

thanks, I did speak to ATI. Perhaps there is another issue, maybe a bad tensioner on the Roush FEAD assembly? It seems this happened rather suddenly. The damper has been on for about 3 months, and I never noticed any wear until today.

I can't hear any noises like squeaky bearings or anything, and don't really notice anything visually. I do know that the damper is the only pulley that the belt is rubbing against. The blower pulley and the other tensioners have a space like in the picture. On the damper, the space is at the back of the pulley. My assumption about the damper pulley being machined incorrectly might be wrong. The design of the Roush FEAD assembly though seems like it would be unlikely that the tensioner is bent.

I would like to find out if the Roush belt is a necessity.

 

[stkjock]

More often then not belt issues are caused by pulley alignment being off.

 

[Marble]

You need proper diagnosis. If it's pulley alignment, using a laser kit is easiest, but next would be a straight edge, then string. I've used all three and depending on what I'm doing will depend on what I use.

I swapped to am 8 rib kit over the winter. I ended up having to get a bushing milled for the blower pulley, adjusting the power steering pulley and replacing my AC unit with a delete bracket. I musty have thrown 7-8 belts before I figured out my AC was off.

So they say everything is based off of the crank. I went pulley by pulley of off off the crank and find the issue. With another set of eyes since I was pissed...

 

[Marble]

If you go to gates website they have a pretty good tech article there that describes all of the possibilities for belt issues.

 

[rojizostang]

I'm thinking of replacing all the idler pulleys. The question is if the belt tensioner and pulley mounted to the Roush FEAD system is the stock tensioner that was re-positioned, or if it's a unit that was dedicated to the Fead system itself. There's been no noticeable wear since the blower install last November, and now suddenly it's eating the belt.

After considering the situation and the other posts here, I believe there is a pulley alignment/wear problem, most likely.

 

[travelers]

I've had my ATI on for over a year and no problems. Knock on wood......Lol

 

[rojizostang]

I replaced the belt and one idler pulley, the one closest to the blower pulley. There doesn't seem to be any issues, but I haven't put any miles on it yet. The belt doesn't appear to be doing anything abnormal, or making any noise. I guess time will tell.

 

[Department Of Boost]

There is nothing special about that Roush belt. Get the $30 belts.

 

[eighty6gt]

I wish a $30 belt were long enough for my setup. When Roush stops making belts for my car I'll have to get them custom made. Glued together from two shorter ones with vulcanizing fluid, like on a threshing machine.

 

[Department Of Boost]

I wish a $30 belt were long enough for my setup. When Roush stops making belts for my car I'll have to get them custom made. Glued together from two shorter ones with vulcanizing fluid, like on a threshing machine.

How long?

 

[Wes06]

Dob setups use an 8 rib diesel belt we trim two ribs off of

 

[rojizostang]

There is nothing special about that Roush belt. Get the $30 belts.

Thank you sir. That's what I was hoping to hear. Said and done already. I purchased the $30 Dayco belt, with a 3 year warranty, compared to some others that are a little less and have a 1 year.....meaning I hope it's a little tougher.

I suppose if I have to put a belt a year on it, it's not too bad. Pretty tough getting that belt in behind that Roush set up the first time, so it was a bit of a learning curve. Next time (if necessary) it should be much easier.

 

[01yellerCobra]

I wish a $30 belt were long enough for my setup. When Roush stops making belts for my car I'll have to get them custom made. Glued together from two shorter ones with vulcanizing fluid, like on a threshing machine.

You must have a crazy long belt. My centri set up used a 109-110" belt.

 

[Wes06]

yea DOB uses 130" or so, depending on sc pulley and idlers, we just frankenstein it