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Sammie · 06-05-2010, 04:18 PM

Yesterday I threw a serpentine belt on my 2006 Winnebago with Cat C7.
The coach only has 14000 miles on it and that seems too early for belt replacement. I got the coach towed 90 miles to my house where today I was able to replace the belt myself with the normal amount of cuts, bruises, and cuss words. My question is why the belt decided to leave early. Is it possible that the belt tensioner is bad and not putting enough tension on the belt? I don't know how to check for correct tension. All pulleys and belt guides spin freely, plus the old belt didn't really look that bad for wear. No cracks that you would normally see on an old belt. Maybe it's just a case of stuff happens.

Sammie

bdpreece · 06-05-2010, 05:38 PM

I suspect you are just one of the lucky ones who had theirs go early. At approximately 4 years of age that is probably a little premature but I would write it off to maybe a semi faulty belt from the get go. If I were one to worry about it I would probably just get a spare to carry then if it happened again I would look at replacing the tension pulley. But then again that's just what I would do.

mikedes · 06-05-2010, 05:44 PM

I have had similar problems on a Cummins - after changing a couple of belts had the alignment checked and one of the pulleys was out by about a 1/4" - after alignment repair it has been fine for about 5000 miles but I still carry a spare belt
Mike D

Sammie · 06-05-2010, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdpreece

I suspect you are just one of the lucky ones who had theirs go early. At approximately 4 years of age that is probably a little premature but I would write it off to maybe a semi faulty belt from the get go. If I were one to worry about it I would probably just get a spare to carry then if it happened again I would look at replacing the tension pulley. But then again that's just what I would do.

Thanks Brian, thats kinda what I was thinking that I'm just lucky. I'm going to call Redlands Truck monday and get them to check the tension pulley just to be on the safe side. When I replaced the belt today the tension pulley really didn't take that much pressure to install the new belt.

Sammie