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Old 05-27-2017, 07:17 PM   #1
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Serpentine Belt question

Hi All,
I took the coach out for a few hour ride and stopped to check out everything (a couple hundred miles from home) and saw a bunch of black spaghetti looking stuff coming out of the rear "hood". I raised the hood and it looks like I have lost half my serpentine belt. Seems the belt is moving toward the engine and the inner edge is being eaten away by the edge of the pulley.
I did replace the idler/tensioner wheel/mechanism a while back and hadn't driven it far.
Any idea what is out of align that could make the belt move? Could the tensioner do this - I am leaning toward that being the culprit.
Anyway, I'm stuck until after Memorial day, I don't dare leave where I'm at until I can fix it. I can put a new belt on, if I had one and will when I get one, but I will have the same issue going home and will have to buy another belt.

So what do you guys think?
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Old 05-27-2017, 08:41 PM   #2
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Speculating You may have put the belt on incorrectly, not lining up the grooves on the pulleys.
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Old 05-27-2017, 08:45 PM   #3
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Speculating You may have put the belt on incorrectly, not lining up the grooves on the pulleys.
My suspicion also. Another possibility is a cracked, grooved pulley.
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Old 05-27-2017, 08:57 PM   #4
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I lost a serpentine belt 6 years ago and sat on the roadside for a while until the service was able to locate the right belt. Now I carry a spare just for these occasions.
My guess is alignment of the pulley.
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Old 05-28-2017, 12:41 PM   #5
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A new belt may or may not come apart. I had a belt jump 2 grooves and come apart on those 2 grooves. I took the tension off and moved the belt over to see if there something that caused it. I didn't want to ruin a new belt. Still running the old belt for the last 5000 miles.

good luck

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Old 05-28-2017, 03:59 PM   #6
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I had to replace a water pump and had to remove my serpentine belt. After completing the job left Michigan and drove to Colorado. While checking the oil I noticed the brand new serpentine belt with only 1200 miles on it was shredded. Apparently when I installed the belt I inadvertently routed the belt around one of the water pump bolt heads down near the bottom of the engine where you couldn't see the belt. Not only did it ruin the belt but the extra drag on the belt also had a negative impact on fuel economy. So you may want to check the routing of the belt.
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Old 05-29-2017, 03:23 PM   #7
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Remove your old belt and check for wabble or seized pulleys. Tensioner travel make sure it is free and not binding.
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Old 05-29-2017, 05:23 PM   #8
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To follow up, I pulled out what tools I have and removed the AC pulley and belt (AC doesn't work correctly anyway) and then using a 1/2" 18" breaker bar I released the tension and pulled the belt. All the pulleys seemed tight with no wobble.
Off to Advance Auto, AutoZone and Pepboys. I told them it was off a '97 Newmar..... didn't mean a thing to them. I needed a 1 1/4" belt "this long" and hand them the old one. 1 1/4" doesn't mean much to these guys - they need to know how many ribs. I hadn't counted - they guessed 6 - they were 2 short. So I bought a different one at each store (except Pepboys - they were only a repair place) and headed back to the coach. Immediately I noticed that the belt was not wide enough. I installed what I'd bought to see if the length are right - seems a 64" is right. So we call back and see if they have an 8 rib - none of them had an 8 but they did have a 7 rib. Off we go to trade/pick up one from each store. Ended up with a 64" 7 rib and put it on - I figured we'd be fine.
Left camp for home today and stopped about half way and belt still looked perfect - got home and checked again - Still perfect.
I'll order a new 8 rib tomorrow (probably 2) and replace the 7 rib.
So other than that it was a great maiden voyage. Should be getting calls from the mobile mechanics I called, tomorrow.
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Old 05-29-2017, 06:09 PM   #9
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I bought a truck that had a belt that was missing a rib on the belt. I replaced the belt and checked it after running it for a while, it was missing a rib. On further investigation the alternator pulley was out of alignment. I disassembled it and put a washer behind the pulley to fix it.

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Old 05-29-2017, 06:31 PM   #10
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To follow up, I pulled out what tools I have and removed the AC pulley and belt (AC doesn't work correctly anyway) and then using a 1/2" 18" breaker bar I released the tension and pulled the belt. All the pulleys seemed tight with no wobble.
Off to Advance Auto, AutoZone and Pepboys. I told them it was off a '97 Newmar..... didn't mean a thing to them. I needed a 1 1/4" belt "this long" and hand them the old one. 1 1/4" doesn't mean much to these guys - they need to know how many ribs. I hadn't counted - they guessed 6 - they were 2 short. So I bought a different one at each store (except Pepboys - they were only a repair place) and headed back to the coach. Immediately I noticed that the belt was not wide enough. I installed what I'd bought to see if the length are right - seems a 64" is right. So we call back and see if they have an 8 rib - none of them had an 8 but they did have a 7 rib. Off we go to trade/pick up one from each store. Ended up with a 64" 7 rib and put it on - I figured we'd be fine.
Left camp for home today and stopped about half way and belt still looked perfect - got home and checked again - Still perfect.
I'll order a new 8 rib tomorrow (probably 2) and replace the 7 rib.
So other than that it was a great maiden voyage. Should be getting calls from the mobile mechanics I called, tomorrow.
Correct number of ribs is one thing. Correct length is also important so the spring tensioner can function properly. I suggest you find the nameplate on the engine, take the model and serial number down and record it for future reference. Then call Cummins with the model/serial number and get the correct belt for your engine. You can always cross that number in the future to a NAPA, Gates etc. But you need the proper one to start with.
If you don't have a Cummins store close, get them to supply you with the OEM part number or a Gates number.
The nameplate is usually located on the timing cover on the Passenger Side of the engine.
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Old 05-30-2017, 05:44 AM   #11
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Correct number of ribs is one thing. Correct length is also important so the spring tensioner can function properly. I suggest you find the nameplate on the engine, take the model and serial number down and record it for future reference. Then call Cummins with the model/serial number and get the correct belt for your engine. You can always cross that number in the future to a NAPA, Gates etc. But you need the proper one to start with.
If you don't have a Cummins store close, get them to supply you with the OEM part number or a Gates number.
The nameplate is usually located on the timing cover on the Passenger Side of the engine.
X2. Once you get your ESN (engine serial number) go to https://quickserve.cummins.com/info/...ion_plans.html and register your vehicle. It's a great source for info on replacement parts. Once you find the correct part number for your belt, BUY 2. It's a cheap investment and beats being stuck on the side of the road.
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Old 05-30-2017, 05:03 PM   #12
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Today I called my local repair place and talked to the parts guy and he said that the required length was indeed 64" and it needed 8 ribs - so confirmed what I thought and what you guys are saying. $50.00 each - ordered 2. I want to see how much heavier a Cummins branded belt is. The 7 rib at Advanced Auto was $14.97 with tax. If they are not much heavier I may just leave the 7 rib on and see how long it lasts AND if it moves.
So the next question is how do you store your extra belt? Inside? In a bag? In a tote in the basement?
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Old 05-30-2017, 05:12 PM   #13
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So the next question is how do you store your extra belt? Inside? In a bag? In a tote in the basement?
On a hook in the peg board bay.
I replace mine every 2 years , and have three good spares now .
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Old 05-30-2017, 05:32 PM   #14
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Hi All,
Could the tensioner do this - I am leaning toward that being the culprit.

So what do you guys think?
Yes the tensioner , can be the issue , the 7 rib belt you installed could be riding clear of the , tensioner lip that forced the original 8 rib to ride off the edges , and start shredding , once a belt rib grabs a pulley edge , it'll just keep going .
I'd say remove the tensioner to check that there is nothing that could stop it from mounting square to the housing , even grains of sand could throw alignment off enough for this problem to start.
If you can't get a good view of the belt with the engine running to check the alignment , put a metal straight edge across each of the pulleys to check for true.

EDIT I did have a damaged tensioner from my mini van , if I can find it I'll take a picture of what to look for in the way of a sagged tensioner.
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