changing belts

[fxdave]

Hello
I have a 97 holiday rambler endeavor on a Freight liner with the 275 cat
cat. Its the 3126. I have two belts. Has anyone tryed to change these belts
and what is the proper way to get to these belts and change it?

[wagonmaster2]

I have a 2004 Cat C-7 on the Freightliner chassis and it was a royal pain in the (you know where) to change these belts. I had to remove the mattress, the mattress foundation, then the two metal plates under the bed in order to access the front of the engine. After all that it wasn't too bad a job.


Wagonmaster2

[fxdave]

if thats the hardest part then i got it made ! they say i have 2 belts to change ! 1 v belt and a serpentine belt hardwst part is probably figuring out how to get them off ?

[Vintage]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxdave Hello I have a 97 holiday rambler endeavor on a Freight liner with the 275 cat cat. Its the 3126. I have two belts. Has anyone tryed to change these belts and what is the proper way to get to these belts and change it?

It is very easy to do.

1. Get under the engine on the drivers side and take the tension off the serpentine belt using a 1/2" ratchet.
2. Remove the center bolt of the tensioner pulley and remove the pulley.
3. Remove the serpentine belt by feeding it one blade at a time over the fan blades at the bottom of the fan shroud.
4. Loosen up the water pump pulley bolts (both 1/2") and R&R the belt. You might have to turn the belt inside out to go ovet the big crankshaft pulley. Re-tension the pulley. There is a 1/2" square hole in the pulley mount for tightening the tension. Since it is hard to reach both bolts when tensioning the belt I had to tighten the pivot bolt first and then remove the 1/2" wrench so I could then tighten the adjustable bolt last.
5. Install the new serpentine belt, then the tensioner. Make sure you put the belt on correctly in all the same groves in all the pulleys.

This will only take about 45 minutes or less. More if you forget tools and have to make several trips to the tool box.

Buy the water pump belt at CAT (take your engine # with you) and the serpentine at NAPA (take the old one with you to get the right size).

It is easy but stuff will get in your eyes without using goggles.

[fxdave]

Thanks so much! I take it that you have the same engine ! will i be able to get it all from underneath or will i need to open the engine compartment ? i believe i will tackle this ! i saw some chips in my serpentine belt while changing the air filter ! they told me there is 2 belts i havent been in there to look but i bought both today belive it or not the freightliner place was cheaper than napa ! i got a dayco serpentine an a cat belt ! im hoping that this doesnt turn into one of thse jobs you say what am i doing ? lol looks like it will save me alot doing it myself !i cant thank you enough the only thing better would have been pics ! lol
i was actually reading one of your post right before this when you were asking ? lol this board rocks !

[fxdave]

bye the way vintage what did you mean by r&r ?

[Vintage]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxdave Thanks so much! I take it that you have the same engine ! will i be able to get it all from underneath or will i need to open the engine compartment ? i believe i will tackle this ! i saw some chips in my serpentine belt while changing the air filter ! they told me there is 2 belts i havent been in there to look but i bought both today belive it or not the freightliner place was cheaper than napa ! i got a dayco serpentine an a cat belt ! im hoping that this doesnt turn into one of thse jobs you say what am i doing ? lol looks like it will save me alot doing it myself !i cant thank you enough the only thing better would have been pics ! lol i was actually reading one of your post right before this when you were asking ? lol this board rocks !

Glad I could help.
Yes, we have the same engine.
This is all done from underneath.
You might need a short stick to help you get the belt over all the pulleys.
Wear goggles or you will get stuff in your eyes and this will lengthen the entire process.
R&R= Remove and replace.

[clarkandrew]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxdave Thanks so much! I take it that you have the same engine ! will i be able to get it all from underneath or will i need to open the engine compartment ? i believe i will tackle this ! i saw some chips in my serpentine belt while changing the air filter ! they told me there is 2 belts i havent been in there to look but i bought both today belive it or not the freightliner place was cheaper than napa ! i got a dayco serpentine an a cat belt ! im hoping that this doesnt turn into one of thse jobs you say what am i doing ? lol looks like it will save me alot doing it myself !i cant thank you enough the only thing better would have been pics ! lol i was actually reading one of your post right before this when you were asking ? lol this board rocks !

Hi there, i am also looking for a new cat belt. where did you acquire one? Do you purchased that over the net? How much does that cost you? sorry for all the questions i just want to have cheaper and different info before i purchased one. thanks.

[clarkandrew]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxdave Thanks so much! I take it that you have the same engine ! will i be able to get it all from underneath or will i need to open the engine compartment ? i believe i will tackle this ! i saw some chips in my serpentine belt while changing the air filter ! they told me there is 2 belts i havent been in there to look but i bought both today belive it or not the freightliner place was cheaper than napa ! i got a dayco serpentine an a cat belt ! im hoping that this doesnt turn into one of thse jobs you say what am i doing ? lol looks like it will save me alot doing it myself !i cant thank you enough the only thing better would have been pics ! lol i was actually reading one of your post right before this when you were asking ? lol this board rocks !

Hi there, i have found one cat yesterday, but not the dayco one. I am still hoping i could find like this serpentine cat belt.

[fxdave]

i got mine at a freight liner place but you can get it at napa also paid 40 for the serptine i think 13 for the water pump one ! advanced auto had it too but i wanted brand names on these belts !