Belt Stretching - Are Some Brands Better Than Others - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DeliveryValve · #16 07-26-2013, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gear-head

...
Long story short, my word on automotive belts: Gates Greenstripe. ....

I had good results with Gates timing belts.

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vstech · #17 07-26-2013, 07:29 AM

ok, let me rephrase what I said... V-Belts don't stretch when installed in a fixed system unless the belt is OVERTIGHTENED. what most associate with stretch is in fact width reduction of the belt, which lets the belt sit lower in the groove of the pulley.
take a worn out belt, and put it on the belt length machine, and it'll be the same length it was when purchased. it'll be much thinner though.

vstech · #18 07-26-2013, 07:29 AM

ok, let me rephrase what I said... V-Belts don't stretch when installed in a fixed system unless the belt is OVERTIGHTENED. what most associate with stretch is in fact width reduction of the belt, which lets the belt sit lower in the groove of the pulley.
take a worn out belt, and put it on the belt length machine, and it'll be the same length it was when purchased. it'll be much thinner though.

wheatfield83 · #19 07-26-2013, 07:56 AM

Green Gates belts available at NAPA.

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BillGrissom · #20 07-26-2013, 08:42 PM

I put Gatorback V-belts on several cars, but haven't driven enough to judge. They look neat with the diagonal notches. You can download a Gates catalog off the web to get PN's. As I recall, V-belts come in 3 widths, mostly 3/8" & 1/2" in cars. Most single-belt AC compressors I have had use a 1/2" belt. All come in 2" increments of length (circumference). In the old days, when all cars used them, you handed your old belt to the guy at the counter and he measured it with a belt gage and pulled the same one from the many hanging from the ceiling.

mach4 · #21 07-26-2013, 10:20 PM

So I went to NAPA today and asked for a 15370 belt. The girl behind the counter went to the computer looked it up and said looks like a bad number. I said it's 15mm wide by 37 inches in circumference. She looked at me like I was an alien and then asked - what car is it off of. I said it's a custom application. She looked even more confused so I just walked out. Then I went to O'Reilly's and asked the same thing. The guy asked whether I wanted a house brand or Gates and I said Gates. He went into the back and came back with a 10mm by 37 inch Gates belt. Go another guy and he came back with a 1/2" by 37 inch Gates belt. (I think 1/2 is the actual correct size, but 15mm is a close alternative) Sometimes it's a real challenge to make sure you get what you need.

I won't know if this is going to do the job as something jammed in my tension rod and I'm going to have to take it off and possibly fab up another one. It's extremely tight and I'll need to fabricate a tool to get to the rear bolt head and ran out of sunlight.

ROLLGUY · #22 07-26-2013, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

So I went to NAPA today and asked for a 15370 belt. The girl behind the counter went to the computer looked it up and said looks like a bad number. I said it's 15mm wide by 37 inches in circumference. She looked at me like I was an alien and then asked - what car is it off of. I said it's a custom application. She looked even more confused so I just walked out. Then I went to O'Reilly's and asked the same thing. The guy asked whether I wanted a house brand or Gates and I said Gates. He went into the back and came back with a 10mm by 37 inch Gates belt. Go another guy and he came back with a 1/2" by 37 inch Gates belt. (I think 1/2 is the actual correct size, but 15mm is a close alternative) Sometimes it's a real challenge to make sure you get what you need.

Typical parts counter experience nowadays. Gone are the days (before computers) when there were actually parts PROFESSIONALS behind the counter. The big parts chains (AZ, O'Reiley etc.) use the old style numbering system for belts, so you can pretty much figure out what size it is by the part number. Some stores (NAPA) use a seemingly arbitrary numbering system, and it makes it hard to find out belt lengths without using a cross reference with a known size/part number.

JamesDean · #23 07-26-2013, 10:53 PM

What's wrong with Dayco? I've got their TopCog stuff on my 190E and 300D... Seems OK so far.. I've no complaints.

I would have went Contitech but couldn't find one in the appropriate size for the 190 (less air pump)

megadiesel · #24 07-27-2013, 09:23 PM

Just don't install one made in China?

ROLLGUY · #25 07-28-2013, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadiesel

Just don't install one made in China?

A majority of belts sold in the chain stores, I have found to be made in Mexico. I don't know if that is good or bad, but they seem to sell a lot of them!

JamesDean · #26 07-28-2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

A majority of belts sold in the chain stores, I have found to be made in Mexico. I don't know if that is good or bad, but they seem to sell a lot of them!

The Volkswagen Jetta's are made in Mexico. Kinda weird German designed, Mexican built.

mach4 · #27 07-28-2013, 08:17 PM

Well I got a Gates belt and installed it but the 370 turned out to be too long. I wanted a 365, but all they had was a 360. That turned out to be technically too short, but I made it work. The problem is that my compressor mounting location is extremely tight and range of adjustment is severely limited - engine on one end and subframe on the other.

So I wedged the belt as best I could and then bumped the engine to get it on. It was within a hair of being the right tension without installing the tensioner. It also made the tensioner too short, so I needed to lengthen it 3/4 inch. It's buttoned back up and appears to be working properly, but only time will tell.

The bad news is that if I ever need to change the alternator belts, I'll need to cut this one and get a 365.

ROLLGUY · #28 07-29-2013, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

Well I got a Gates belt and installed it but the 370 turned out to be too long. I wanted a 365, but all they had was a 360. That turned out to be technically too short, but I made it work. The problem is that my compressor mounting location is extremely tight and range of adjustment is severely limited - engine on one end and subframe on the other.

So I wedged the belt as best I could and then bumped the engine to get it on. It was within a hair of being the right tension without installing the tensioner. It also made the tensioner too short, so I needed to lengthen it 3/4 inch. It's buttoned back up and appears to be working properly, but only time will tell.

The bad news is that if I ever need to change the alternator belts, I'll need to cut this one and get a 365.

It looks like you will have the perfect opportunity to see if this new belt will stretch. It will be easy to find out after adjusting it several times if it comes off without prying.

oldsinner111 · #29 07-29-2013, 11:39 AM

I buy contenital belts.They are for Mercedes