Air Conditioner belt ...Gone>>

[Chaffeekid]

Ok guys, I have a 2001 Fleetwood Expedition on a Freightliner XCs Chassis. It has a 5.9L Cummins. When checking it over yesterday, I noticed that the belt from the Fan to the Air Conditioner compressor is MIA.

The compressor is new, was put on when I purchased the unit, however the tech appearently forgot a fairly important aspect of the installation

I am wondering if any one of you guys knows the number for the belt. Will I have to call Cummins or can I get it from the local Napa store

Going back to St Louis for a belt is not an option, its 240 miles round trip Installing is not a problem I get a kick out of turning wrenches, specially when I'm saving a bunch of money. Oh yes, they will hear from me up there but over all I still have enjoyed my purchase, and expected to have some quirks to work out.

Thanks for any help
Happy trails
Jim

[siggyd]

Hi Chaffeeekid,
Call Freightliner with your VIN # , they can tell you who's belt it is, Freightliner or Cummins. In most cases it is the chassis maker who put the AC belt on.
Here is the # 1-800-385-4357
Siggy D.

[Chaffeekid]

Thanks so much for the phone number, will be giving them a call.

Wow going to be in the 50's here today and bright sunshine, good day for working on the old girl.

Thanks again

Happy trails
Jim

[sc3283]

Jim, double check your compressor, just to be sure it didn't lock up and cause the belt to disappear

[J Walker]

I have a 2000 XCS chassis and my compressor uses a Gates 9420 belt. They probably put a new belt on when they replaced the compressor but maybe not. I replaced my belt at about 30,000 miles and then at near 60,000 miles the belt broke and disappeared somewhere on the road. It may have become too loose. You should find the adjusting bolts freed up since the compressor was replaced recently. I am betting that they used the original belt and it broke. Tightening the belt can be tricky and you can send me a private message for tips.

[Chaffeekid]

Thanks everyone, yes I checked the compressor and it rotates freely by hand, both with the clutch and the front of the rotor. There is a little resistance when turning the front of the rotor on the compressor which I attribute to rotating the compressor. There is no resistance when only turning the pulley without the clutch.

Jim I sent you a private message to send the tips, always open to helpful suggestions. You can even post them here as it may help someone else.

Our temps have dropped off in the winter mode again so may be a couple of days before I can jump on it again. I don't work so good in the cold anymore

Thanks again everyone
Happy Trails
Jim

[Midniteoyl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaffeekid Ok guys, I have a 2001 Fleetwood Expedition on a Freightliner XCs Chassis. It has a 5.9L Cummins. When checking it over yesterday, I noticed that the belt from the Fan to the Air Conditioner compressor is MIA. The compressor is new, was put on when I purchased the unit, however the tech appearently forgot a fairly important aspect of the installation I am wondering if any one of you guys knows the number for the belt. Will I have to call Cummins or can I get it from the local Napa store Going back to St Louis for a belt is not an option, its 240 miles round trip Installing is not a problem I get a kick out of turning wrenches, specially when I'm saving a bunch of money. Oh yes, they will hear from me up there but over all I still have enjoyed my purchase, and expected to have some quirks to work out. Thanks for any help Happy trails Jim

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Walker I have a 2000 XCS chassis and my compressor uses a Gates 9420 belt. They probably put a new belt on when they replaced the compressor but maybe not. I replaced my belt at about 30,000 miles and then at near 60,000 miles the belt broke and disappeared somewhere on the road. It may have become too loose. You should find the adjusting bolts freed up since the compressor was replaced recently. I am betting that they used the original belt and it broke. Tightening the belt can be tricky and you can send me a private message for tips.

Agreed... belt came off on the road... Double check the alignment also..

[Chaffeekid]

Hi Guys, update. Got the belt on, had to use a 43 7/8 belt. That is the smallest that I could get over the fan. I tried the 40.5 that freightliner stated, no way to get it over the fan.

With the fan shroud on, no way to get the fan off, will need to replace the fan at some point noticed that it had a couple of notches out of one blade, these are hard plastic or some type of rubber compound?

Freightliner sent me a diagram of the AC compressor and the mount, made it a lot easier to figure what I had to do. There is an I bolt type that is part of the mount and sticks out to the side of the compressor. You loosen the lock nut, an 18mm, loosen the through bolt at the base of the ac compressor, then using a 13mm loosen a locking bolt that clamps the I bolt at the front of the compressor, I had to just feel for this as I couldn't see it

Loosen that one then turn the end of the I bolt with an 8mm and adjust the belt, my 43 and 7/8 required me to run it out about half way up the I bolt adjuster, so I still have an inch or inch and a half of adjustment left

Checked the ac after installing the belt and it works It is a real pain to get to the ac compressor, I removed the metal storage bin and used the extra room to sit under the rear of the MH on my craftsman roll around seat, so wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Now, I think I need to add some 'freon' R-12 to the system, I found the dryer with a sight glass and a couple of fixtures where I think the taps are, but they don't look like the ones on an automobile. Any suggestions

Hope this helps someone else.

Happy trails
Jim

[J Walker]

Congratulations on getting the AC belt over the fan and removing the serpentine belt to allow the AC belt to get to the compressor. That is quite a labor intensive project. One tip is that your Freon is R 134 not R 12. For your year the conversion to R 134 was complete. I added some R 134 to my 2000 MH and then found that the way to gauge how much you add it simply by the temperature difference between ambient and the cold air out of the vent (20 deg+). The process was a bit different for R 12, you did that by pressure.

[Chaffeekid]

Yep, J Walker, its R134 not R12. Just a brain freeze when I wrote that Just couldn't think of the other number I'm going to add a can, just to see if it will take it.

The can has some compressor oil in it so that should help the system.

Thanks all
Happy Trails
Jim

[J Walker]

Jim
It looks like you are on your way. Just don't overfill with R 134 like I did. I went past the maximum temperature difference. Maybe add freon a little at a time and check the temp difference as you go. If you have any other questions on your XCS chassis you can send me a private message. The chassis is outstanding in my opinion but there weren't that many made. There are some unique things you should know also.