Have You Lost an Engine Fan Belt

[Deeds]

Since my previous post regarding loosing an engine cooling fan drive belt, resulting in "engine coolant overtemp" & "stop engine" (or close to that), I have run into a neighbor with a new Newmar (mine is a 2021 Essex), that had the same belt break.
So, I am curious who else may have had a Belt failure. I would like to see a response from other coach owners, that may have had a similar problem on recent built Newmar's.
My objective is to let Spartan know about this, if it appears to be a fault in the supplier of this particular belt (Dayco #19516133). This belt, I was unable to cross reference, but perhaps, I need to try additional sites.
Please respond, if you would.

Thank You

Deeds

[THenne1713]

TIP: Most often when a belt snaps, a bearing/ device momentarily/permanently seized? If they shred, they ran off the pulley or rubbed against something. Guessing yours serpentine, but so far, unable to find anything based on the ## you provided?

[dav-cle]

The only time i had problems with a belt was when I bought my new to me 2011 Newmar Mt. Aire on a Freightliner chassis. Bought the unit with 17,000 miles. Took the coach to Cummins for a chirp or squeal from belt while it was still under warranty, they replaced the belt with a Cummins belt. within 3000 miles i had thrown and shredded 4 belts. To make a long story short it needed to be a freightliner part. Don't always trust cross referencing numbers ! Just turned 70,000 miles and zero problems.

[Steele]

I’d consider getting in touch with Cummins. I doubt that Spartan or FCCC installs the belts.

[PandS]

Never lost one, but we carry a spare in a vacuum sealed bag, just in case. - Paul

[F239141]

Try a gates fleet runner (green) belt if you want top quality.

As for the issue you may have an alignment issue or bent pulley.

Back in the early 90s we had an Allegro on a 1982 P30 chassis, and it would throw the belts every time you got on it and ran it up to near redline and it shifted.

After a times started looking close and it was a combination or a bent pulley and alignment issue.

[tj3964]

Originally Posted by Deeds

Since my previous post regarding loosing an engine cooling fan drive belt, resulting in "engine coolant overtemp" & "stop engine" (or close to that), I have run into a neighbor with a new Newmar (mine is a 2021 Essex), that had the same belt break.
So, I am curious who else may have had a Belt failure. I would like to see a response from other coach owners, that may have had a similar problem on recent built Newmar's.
My objective is to let Spartan know about this, if it appears to be a fault in the supplier of this particular belt (Dayco #19516133). This belt, I was unable to cross reference, but perhaps, I need to try additional sites.
Please respond, if you would.

Thank You

Deeds

I had a belt failure in July of 2020 climbing a hill out of Las Vegas. The cause was a frozen air conditioner compressor. My chassis is a Freightliner.

[Deeds]

Thanks to all.
I have an appointment at cummins to check pulley alignment. Eye balling it, it looks suspicious. I will get a straight edge to run across to both pulleys and that may validate alignment or not.
Going to get spare belts real soon. With only 7700 miles on the coach, I never thought I would need spares this soon.

Larry D

[BrokeDown]

Originally Posted by Deeds

Thanks to all.
I have an appointment at cummins to check pulley alignment. Eye balling it, it looks suspicious. I will get a straight edge to run across to both pulleys and that may validate alignment or not.
Going to get spare belts real soon. With only 7700 miles on the coach, I never thought I would need spares this soon.

Larry D

To properly change the belt yourself. You will need to get a belt tension gauge, a 3/4 or 1-inch drive socket set and a really big torque wrench.
One of the bolts takes 260 foot-pounds of torque.

After my belt broke along I-10, I purchased the big socket set and ratchet, and the torque wrench from harbor freight. I found the belt tension gauge online and got it too.

When I did the job along I-10 outside of Jacksonville, I had a 1/2 socket set and a large breaker bar in the jeep (toed). Those tools allowed me to get the job done but not 100% to spec.

After getting the gauge, sockets, and the big torque wrench, I did the job again and set everything to spec. It was MUCH easier with big tools vs the 1/2 set that I used along the side of the road. BTW: the belt is scary tight.

I wrote all of the torque specs and the belt deflection on the box of the new belt. Next time I do it, it should be a snap....

-B

[FOLEYMECH]

There is a problem with the mounting bracket. I lost one rib belt was squeaking. Our Freightliner dealer has another one in for the same thing. FCCC told him about it. They have to remove a bunch of stuff on the back of the motor, remove the bracket and grind some excess cast flashing and reinstall.

[BrokeDown]

Originally Posted by FOLEYMECH

There is a problem with the mounting bracket. I lost one rib belt was squeaking. Our Freightliner dealer has another one in for the same thing. FCCC told him about it. They have to remove a bunch of stuff on the back of the motor, remove the bracket and grind some excess cast flashing and reinstall.

Ouch... That will be covered, right?

[jrs]

Our belt started showing signs of slight stredding at an edge and had a faulty pulley. Replaced under warranty

[Deeds]

Steele

The belt that came of the pulleys was intact but frayed badly on the back edge. It was the engine cooling fan drive belt which is installed by Spartan. Cummins made that quite clear. But, a Cummins facility will be taking care of checking pulley alignment. I straight edged checked from pulley to pulley and sure enough they are off a bit. I'll let them make the final diagnosis.

Larry D.

[Deeds]

f234191

I bought two of the gates green belts for the fan drive. And yes, I have looked closely. Cummins will make the final diagnosis.

Larry D.