Squeaking!!! Help! Belt? Tensioner? What is it?!

[jmn444]

I will take a look when the time comes, thanks!

 

[94tbird]

no problem man. glad i could help. After all, no one spent more time on belts and tensioner than I. thats one of the reasons why the Thump_RRR is in existence haha

 

[tmcolegr]

The belt you are recommending does not come in a 107.5" length (6 rib) - closest size is 108.0". I think the next time I replace my Gates Micro V AT belt, I am going to order one of the Gates K061080HD "HD Series Fleet Runner Micro-V Belt"

There are many more choices with that belt in an 8 rib design than a 6 rib design.

 

[94tbird]

you can make up the difference in size by changing the sizes of a few idler pulleys. change a 76mm or 2 to a 90mm or 100mm and youll take up the slack. im not sure of if you need to change 1 or 2 pulleys but its an easy fix. Id also be willing to bet the .5" difference wont be a problem on its own with no changes. the tensioner will probably eat up the slack and sicne it wont stretch youll be good. but if you need to yo ucan change thesize of an idler or two

 

[tmcolegr]

I am currently running a 76mm pulley on the tensioner.

I'll switch the 90mm idler pulley next to the P/S pump to a 100mm idler pulley.

 

[pacettr]

Thanks for the info!!!

 

[jmn444]

I'm already running two 90mm and one 100mm per whipples instructions with the 3.25 pulley and this belt size.... I tend to agree that 1/2 inch larger that won't stretch may be fine... More research to do I guess!!!

 

[Lee's05GT]

It's weird mine stopped squeaking Idk why but it did, I would like to get that hd belt you guys are taking about, what size would I need to get?

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[jmn444]

Looks like Gates makes an HD version in 7 rib that is the same measurement as the 6 rib I run... for other Whipple guys, the part number is K071247HD

Looks like 50-60 bucks, so I may give that a shot and cut off one rib... depending on how many miles I get out of the current belt... I still gotta wrap my head around having a green belt lol!

 

[Lupo222]

I was just having this problem as well on my Saleen S/Cd GT.

I had a gatorback 108" on a 3.4" pulley. They recommended a 107.3". It squeaked sometimes during idle and ALWAYS with the A/C on. I went and swapped in a 107.5" house brand belt because its all they had in my town and it went away completely. Drove from Florida to NC and with the long drive and the heat I guess, the new belt started to squeak. Now I have a 107.3" sitting here to go on the car tomorrow. Hopefully the .7" difference over the 108 and the .2" difference over the 107.5" will last a little longer in the squeak free department!

Otherwise, I'll be "going green" lol

 

[Mach1Marauder]

Actually it depends on WHAT belt you are using. Its been my experience that regular Gates bets, AC Delco Belts, Goodyear Gator back belts, and a few others, stretch like a motherfucker and it happens very quickly on a thum_RRR tensioner due to the increased tension it provides over a stock tensioner. They developed their own spring for the unit specifically designed to add tension to the belt.

That being said 4k miles or not, if your using a belt like the ones described you've more than likely stretched the belt and its loose.

Now what belts have i found to work? Well the Gates Green Stripe belts resist stretch at least 2-3x longer than the aforementioned belts. But they will stretch over time.

The Gates HD series belts (the actual green belts, and yes the entire belt is green) have NEVER stretched on me. not once. and they last FOREVER.

My advice is to find a gates HD belt.

example part numbers:

K081213 - regular gates belt
K081213 Green Stripe - Green Stripe Belt
K081213HD - HD series fleet runner belt. This is what you want. Just find one in your size.

Green HD belts rule!

Had a customer that his KB locked up while driving with a HD belt. It dragged the engine down and killed it! KB fixed it and he reused the belt. That was over a year and a half ago.

Here is a cool viable option for you guys with Whipples on your 3V.

Pics!

CLOSE UP OF THE PIGGYBACK PULLY AND NEW SFI DEGREED DAMPER

VIEW FROM ABOVE OF THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY BELTS

FINISHED INSTALL! I THINK IT LOOKS KILLER!!!!!!!

 

[94tbird]

no doubt it looks good, but at the price they want, no thanks.

Besides, if you do it right by aligning the pulleys, proper tension, ect, you dont need a seperate belt drive.

That being said there are positives of having the seperate belt for sure.

 

[jmn444]

Tell ya what, $1200 isn't cheap for that drive set up, but after $385 for the tensioner w/ a 90mm, another $200ish for double bearing 90mm and 100mm idlers, another $140 to get a 3.25" pulley (my used kit came with 3.5") and almost $100 in replacement belts assuming I'll need a green one after this current replacement goes bad, I'd have gladly just bought that up front had the whipple version been available when I installed my setup...

Damn.... I now wish I didn't just do that math....

 

[jmn444]

But hey, at least I still have a rusty crank pulley to look at!

 

[94tbird]

you could most likely make it yourself for cheaper.

 

[tmcolegr]

I am currently running a 76mm pulley on the tensioner. I'll switch the 90mm idler pulley next to the P/S pump to a 100mm idler pulley.

After being extremely bored and giving this whole longer belt/idler scenario some further thought, and using some Middle School math, I have determined that a 100mm idler pulley has a 1.236" larger circumference than a 90mm idler pulley. Took a look at the 90mm idler pulley that is currently mounted next to the P/S pump and determined the belt contacts approx. 40% of the circumference of the idler pulley. 1.236" x 40% = .494". A 1/2" longer belt should work perfectly by only switching out the 90mm idler pulley next to the P/S pump to the larger 100mm diameter.

I have ordered a Gates K061080HD belt from my local NAPA dealer - should have it tomorrow.

 

[psfracer]

Just confirming what Ron said. With the regular belts I would get the squeak and eventually destroy the belt because it was stretching. Went with the "true" green belt (indicated by HD in the part #) and never had a problem. Mine was an 8-rib part #, however.

 

[jmn444]

Just cut them down with a razor blade to get "extra" ribs off?

 

[Mach1Marauder]

Whipple's first base kit for the 3V Mustang totally sucked butt. It threw belts like a cheap Philippine hooker! Ya had to upgrade to the 12lb and get a belt from Whipple.....which was a cut down 8 rib. LOL!

 

[psfracer]

Actually, if I where to start from scratch today with a whipple, (and you race a lot), I would definitely get the dedicated drive kit. Nothing more frustrating the coming out of the burnout box for a race and you throw a belt and give away the round. I would think the dedicated drive would be worth the money over time in the reliability it provides.