Tight fan belt- is this a big problem?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Tight fan belt- is this a big problem?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Chochole on Sunday, July 27, 2014 - 05:28 pm:

I have about 6 fan belts laying around and, of course, most are too big or too small. I have one that will work but is snug. It is an older belt and is not leather, can I leave it snug and see if it will stretch a bit as I drive?

Is this a problem for the car? Just don't want to cause other issues. Thanks!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Sunday, July 27, 2014 - 05:38 pm:

Excess load on the fan bushings is not ideal. Normally the fan is adjusted so it will just run without slipping. I would advise against using a fan belt which is tight, to preserve the bushings, which should always be well lubricated.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Chochole on Sunday, July 27, 2014 - 05:40 pm:

Can the synthetic belts be stretched?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Moorehead on Sunday, July 27, 2014 - 06:06 pm:

Not scientific by any means, but I tighten the belt to where I can grab the fan blade with the engine not running and if the blade can be turned by hand with minimal resistance with the hub in the belt, its good to go. Have never had any problem when using this procedure.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tyrone Thomas - Topeka KS on Sunday, July 27, 2014 - 07:21 pm:

Get a piece of string, wrap the string around both pullys (the fan pully adjustment about middle way of its adjustment) pulling the slack out of the string, meet the cut end of string back to the string and that is the measurement of belt you need. Buy a belt that size. Will last you the rest of your life.

My dad always used a belt dressing for a slipping belt rather than over tightening the belt, putting to much stress on the fan shaft bushing.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chester W. Lowery TN on Monday, July 28, 2014 - 12:00 am:

James, belts was one of my biggest problems when I started driving my T... Broke three and had to replace the bushing before I took the advice of people like Tom and keeping it loose enough to turn the fan blade with little resistance....I was trying to tighten it like a modern car with an alternator....I was told afterward you probably could run it without one unless you was in a parade....I don't think I would do that unless I had too....Chet


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Monday, July 28, 2014 - 05:08 am:

One of my longest time best friends used to demonstrate proper fanbelt adjustment by grabbing the fan with his hand while the engine was idling. The belt should be loose enough to slip easily. Model Ts tend to break pulleys, both lower and upper, if the belt is too tight.
I have done that with authentic type belts (like leather), but I don't know if I would be crazy enough to try it using one of the modern type belts. They tend to grip better even when loose. I still make sure the fan can be turned with the engine off.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Moorehead on Monday, July 28, 2014 - 07:42 am:

I use modern micro groove belts turned with the flat side toward the pulley on all of the T's with great success, tightened with the same procedure I suggested above. They are cheap and seem to last forever. The only problem is getting the folks at the big box parts store to find a belt without knowing the year of the car. What a pain.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Monday, July 28, 2014 - 10:49 am:

I run my belt as loose as I can, but still allowing the fan to turn. As mentioned above, you don't want to wear the bushings. I have a T I've been driving for over 50 years with no bushings at all, and it's still fine. It is a brass hub fan. Lubrication, I believe is the key.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Monday, July 28, 2014 - 11:23 am:

Langs has the correct belts, they are cheap. I ordered one too small and thought about stretching it, but realized that the correct one was so cheap that it was not worth the time wasted trying to make one work, not to mention the possibility of damaging the bushings.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Monday, July 28, 2014 - 11:35 am:

The pulleys are crowned in the center. The belt will naturally ride on the high center of the pulley if it is left loose. However, if it is too tight, it will tend to move to the lower outside edge of the pulley which will cause the belt to ride off the pulley.
Norm


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