Belt dressings - opinions?
- Thread starter widman
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If the belt has oil on it clean it. If it is worn out replace it!
I have had the same can for over 20 years. I think it has extended the life of some belts. When I was managing a factory, we had a line with over 30 motors and drives. Sometimes a shot of belt dressing let us keep going until the next scheduled shutdown. Then we would change the belt. I had a tough time reeducating people not to let a $5 belt cause a $1000 scrap and downtime shutdown. The whole company was into run it until it breaks.
Kestas
Staff member
I too have heard that it should be used ONLY on v-groove belts, and NOT to be used on multigrooved belts.
Labman, you and I fight the same mentality at work. I try to repair equipment BEFORE it breaks, and not wait until it craps out. Others think it's a waste of time. Equipment has a habit of breaking when you need it the most, such as during a rush job! If people subscribed to the mentality of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", we wouldn't be changing the oil in our engines until 30,000 miles!!... or any other fluids for that matter!
Labman, you and I fight the same mentality at work. I try to repair equipment BEFORE it breaks, and not wait until it craps out. Others think it's a waste of time. Equipment has a habit of breaking when you need it the most, such as during a rush job! If people subscribed to the mentality of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", we wouldn't be changing the oil in our engines until 30,000 miles!!... or any other fluids for that matter!
Not since they threw me out on my ear for taking care of my people and machinery.
I sprayed some on a serpentine belt making a lot of noise on a Dodge van. It quieted down immediately... and then in about 10 seconds, the belt flew completely off.
So, it was great for diagnosis.. " Yep. It was the belt." Not so good for longevity.
Really the only trouble we had with that van was the belt. Replaced under warranty the first time it broke. replaced with the tensioner the next time. Replaced again after warranty at no cost to me because I argued that it was a known problem. 3.0L V6.
After the spray incident above, I replaced it myself. That one lasted until we traded it away.
Yes, I put in another post ^ that this stuff only
breaks down the belt while making it "tacky" at the same time. Maybe the tackiness comes from breaking down the rubber compounds. Secret is to
only use one or two short squirts on the belt as it is moving. Serpentine or multigroove belts are usually thinner and the grooves literally disappear when dressing is used. Then belts come off or snap.
breaks down the belt while making it "tacky" at the same time. Maybe the tackiness comes from breaking down the rubber compounds. Secret is to
only use one or two short squirts on the belt as it is moving. Serpentine or multigroove belts are usually thinner and the grooves literally disappear when dressing is used. Then belts come off or snap.
Funny how they show a picture of a serpentine belt on the can.
http://www.honeywell.com.au/business/holts/prestone/belt.html
It says "Conditions V-belts and fan belts to prolong belt life".
-T
http://www.honeywell.com.au/business/holts/prestone/belt.html
It says "Conditions V-belts and fan belts to prolong belt life".
-T
Whatever the product, I would think that if it wasn't appropriate for a certain belt design, the labeling would most likely note same. Some spray dressing I once used did stop a squeek (a temporary solution until I changed the belt), but it made a gooey mess as well all over the belt.
I like my Dad's old-school method used in prehistoric times. Use wax or a bar of soap. I've gotten rid of squeaks for a week at a time by quickly rubbing a candlestick against a spinning V-belt. Works like a charm, although it only lasts days, not weeks. On the plus side it doesn't seem to permeate, gum, or otherwise alter the belt in any way, unlike the sprays which permeate the belt and can make a mess.
I like my Dad's old-school method used in prehistoric times. Use wax or a bar of soap. I've gotten rid of squeaks for a week at a time by quickly rubbing a candlestick against a spinning V-belt. Works like a charm, although it only lasts days, not weeks. On the plus side it doesn't seem to permeate, gum, or otherwise alter the belt in any way, unlike the sprays which permeate the belt and can make a mess.
I've had a couple of cars that required a shot of belt dressing every few months. If it needs it more than that, or needs more than a light spray, the vehicle has other issues that need to be resolved.
I will say that, for ribbed belts, the Goodyear line of "GatorBack" belts is the best thing since sliced bread. They stay quiet much longer, and are almost impervious to moisture slippage. The "bite" is so aggressive that it takes the coating right off of pulleys.
I don't know if it is still around, but there used to be a toothed V-belt that was also vey grippy, compared to smooth ones.
I will say that, for ribbed belts, the Goodyear line of "GatorBack" belts is the best thing since sliced bread. They stay quiet much longer, and are almost impervious to moisture slippage. The "bite" is so aggressive that it takes the coating right off of pulleys.
I don't know if it is still around, but there used to be a toothed V-belt that was also vey grippy, compared to smooth ones.
Am I the only one that still sands glazed belts? (v-belts)
I start the car and with it running hold some 80 grit sandpaper to it for a few seconds. My high school auto shop teacher taught us this trick. It removes the glaze.
Another trick is to remove the glazed pully's and have the grooves sandblasted.
I start the car and with it running hold some 80 grit sandpaper to it for a few seconds. My high school auto shop teacher taught us this trick. It removes the glaze.
Another trick is to remove the glazed pully's and have the grooves sandblasted.
Kestas
Staff member
On the multigrooved pulleys, I like to scrape the gunk out of the grooves. I can only imagine that the gunk pushes on the belt grooves, reducing belt engagement with the pulley.
NEVER use any kind of belt dressing.
Best thing to do is remove the belt and wash it in a hot detergent solution to get all of the oil & grease off of it and thoroughly clean the pulleys. Re install the belt and enjoy. Don't ever leave home without a spare belt (even an old used one) and tools to install it. Doing that almost insures that your belt will never break.
Best thing to do is remove the belt and wash it in a hot detergent solution to get all of the oil & grease off of it and thoroughly clean the pulleys. Re install the belt and enjoy. Don't ever leave home without a spare belt (even an old used one) and tools to install it. Doing that almost insures that your belt will never break.
I agree with vader........the goodyear gatorback belts are great. I have a dayco polycog belt on my truck, and it has squeaked since day 1. I apply belt dressing every few days, to a few weeks, and that is the only way I can stand the noise. The belt is 3 yrs old, and still looks brand new.......so I don't think the belt dressing is hurting anything.
if the belt is squeaking, why not tighten it up some?
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Ed, you make a most valid point. A few years ago I took a long road trip after putting NEW belts on my vehicle. I carried the old ones along as spares. Sure enough, even a new belt broke. I put on the used one in just a few minutes and resumed my journey. The same has happened to me on radiator hoses and heater hoses. I even carried around my used timing belts as long as I had the vehicle that used them. Oh, I have driven a lot.
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