Belt shredding?

[JHZR2]

Then don’t ask for opinions if you’re going to argue them! How’s that?

What, my questions aren’t legit??? Not arguing, Im asking.

 

[Nukeman7]

I need to pull the belt off entirely. They switched from 8–rib to 7-rib belts not long after my engine #, so it’s entirely possible.

I think you are on to something here. Either a wrong pulley or a mismatched belt for the pulleys.

Belt looks ok though. Which is why I have to wonder if the tensioner is just weak and causing wobble in the belt in some cases. There is hardly any space between the belt and other stuff for some of its run.

I doubt that a weak tensioner could cause that amount of consistent shredding of the belt. From my experience, a weak tensioner causes chunks of the belt to fray. The rubber debris in your photos appear to result from rubbing or abrasion. Do you smell any rubber burning? I had a tensioner pulley seize and the serpentine belt actually melted before breaking.

 

[JHZR2]

I think you are on to something here. Either a wrong pulley or a mismatched belt for the pulleys.

I doubt that a weak tensioner could cause that amount of consistent shredding of the belt. From my experience, a weak tensioner causes chunks of the belt to fray. The rubber debris in your photos appear to result from rubbing or abrasion. Do you smell any rubber burning? I had a tensioner pulley seize and the serpentine belt actually melted before breaking.

Never any burning. Maybe the belt could be slipping… or not. It feel tackier than a regular belt.

I’d agree on rubbing or abrasion, but I’m not seeing from where.

I don’t know why the belt has that stripe down the middle either, though the tensioner pulley is metal and has a gap in it, so I’m guessing it’s related?

 

[JHZR2]

I pulled things apart today.

Got the tensioner off:

Everything spins smooth. Everything is eight rib. While I showed photos previously of rubber mess higher up, I think it may be flung. I saw a lot more by the overrunning pulley on the alternator. But it spins very smooth and nice.

One idler spins more readily than the other.



I think I’ll replace the one that is lower down that spins easier. And then the tensioner and belt.

I do thing the top of the belt must scrape something.

It is an OE Contitech MB belt. It will get the same Contitech belt.

Rib side is perfect everywhere:

I’d assume that this would all point to a weak tensioner, no?

Everything is oily and messy up there but I can’t see how that would affect things.

 

[hemitom]

wonder if oil is softening the rubber causing the pulleys to chew on the belt

 

[JHZR2]

wonder if oil is softening the rubber causing the pulleys to chew on the belt

Thing is, then wouldn’t the rib side also have issues? I guess it could be that drops on the flat side stay on the flat side…

 

[JHZR2]

New tensioner, belt, and idler installed.

We shall see.

Also found the source of oil leaks, and repaired.

That red gasket wasn’t there!

 

[hemitom]

Thing is, then wouldn’t the rib side also have issues? I guess it could be that drops on the flat side stay on the flat side…

It's puzzling to say the least !

 

[spasm3]

Thing is, then wouldn’t the rib side also have issues? I guess it could be that drops on the flat side stay on the flat side…

That would be my guess. If it's an edpm belt, oil would not be good for it.

 

[JHZR2]

That would be my guess. If it's an edpm belt, oil would not be good for it.

Agree. But it still needs to be rubbing on something to shed.

Thats why tensioner is still a culprit to me.

Now swapped.

 

[JHZR2]

Knock on wood, after about 200 miles, things seem better. Though I don’t think I’m imagining some specks of who knows what.