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Americanrascal · 05-27-2023, 03:04 PM

Well I finally quit procrastinating today and did the belt change job on our 2016 Winnebago Adventurer 38 q with the V-10 engine. While I was in there I changed the tensioner also.

The tensioner change was easy. I found that crawling up in front and just inside the passenger side front wheel well gave me good side access to the tensioner. The three bolts came out easily and the new one went one even easier.

The serpentine belt? Well that's another story. I've changed more belts than I can count over the past 60+ years but this one made history for me as being the most difficult belt change job. On paper it would seem that a serpentine belt change would be very easy.

I have a tensioner tool to release the belt from the tensioner. That went well. Using it to get the belt back on was another story-- just could not get the clearance or angle to use it adequately.

Routing the new belt- even with the drawing was quite challenging, not so much for the layout but for all the obstructions.

I removed the doghouse and my wonderful mechanic assistant- the DW assisted from the top, primarily stabilizing the new belt on the water pump and the alternator. She was pretty uncomfortable laying down on her belly and reaching over the front of the block- but she was a great help holding the belt in place on those critical pulleys.. The number of spaghetti A/C hoses and coolant lines from the engine to the front radiators on bottom was a major problem leaving no room to access anything on the front of the block.

After 5 hours of wrestling with the belt and pulleys I finally got everything lined up and somehow managed to spring the tensioner on to the belt for the final movement. It would have been a relatively easy and quick job if the engineers that designed the F53 had been a bit more thoughtful about long term maintenance needs.

The one take away that seemed to be important to my effort was to start by hanging the belt over the alternator after getting it over the fan, then getting it stable on the water pump which contacts the smooth un-ribbed side of the belt making it harder to stay in place, then work outwards from there.

Oh well- this preventive maintenance activity at 66,000 miles is in the bag. I have several more projects underway on the rig, but this was has been one of the most challenging (it didn't need to be). But I am glad I did it myself and didn't chunk out a boatload of dollars to have it done in a shop.

DustyDriver · 05-27-2023, 05:09 PM

Kudos to you for hanging in there and getting it done. And "Extra Credit" to your wife for officially becoming a Motorhome Mechanic!

DD

sbleiweiss · 05-28-2023, 08:09 AM

Doesn't Ford list this as a job at 100K miles? Why do it at 66K?

wolfe10 · 05-28-2023, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbleiweiss

Doesn't Ford list this as a job at 100K miles? Why do it at 66K?

Rubber components also deteriorate due to AGE.

At 7+ years old, I agree, better to change at your convenience than to breakdown on the side of the road.

jpstakun · 05-28-2023, 08:59 AM

I had a 2001 National Tropical that I owned for 15 years and 65K miles. I had my local mechanic check it a couple of times at 50K and 60K and he said that the belt looked ok. I never changed it.

Americanrascal · 05-28-2023, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbleiweiss

Doesn't Ford list this as a job at 100K miles? Why do it at 66K?

Yep- In fact I think they infer maybe as high as 150K in the manual for the first change. They don't talk about age in the owners manual- I'm at 7 years- that's enough for me. I wanted peace of mind for 2 cross country coast to coast trips coming up over the next 6 months. The thought of being broke down in the middle of no where with a broken belt or broken hose ain't worth the bad feeling. Especially when I can get aging things changed out by myself in my driveway for a lot less than the cost of emergency road service. Better yet not sitting on the side of the road for many hours waiting for help. If I was just going to hang locally and not travel I'd have gone longer.

winnbrave1 · 05-28-2023, 05:09 PM

The dvice about the "age" of times is expressed over and over again on this site, and rightly so. Even though the tires may have plenty or even most of the read left, changing nthe tires after 6 years or so is sound advice. I found out the hard way with two rear inner blowouts on a trip. Luckily no wheel well damage with either one.
I am in the process of replacing the front pads on my 2007 class A. I just returned from a trip to New Mexico, placing 3500 miles on the coach and turning over 50,000 miles, while pulling a toad. With the coach being 15years old, and not experiencing any brake problems, I feel like the time factor comes into play.
I pulled off the wheels and pads. Probably about 1/2 of the pad left, and I did not like how they appeared. The rotors are fine. While I have the wheels off I will also repack the wheel bearing and replace the seals.
I have also replaced the serpentine belt before the New Mexico trip. 15 years of age was sufficent to warrant the change.
Also, I have replaced the brake fluid as well. And replaced the coolant.
I understand the manufacturer recommendations for such things, but I also like to be proactive in order to head off any road side breakdowns that I can avoid. Yes it costs, but being able to do my own work, I feel in my case it is time and money well spent.

Americanrascal · 05-28-2023, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winnbrave1

The dvice about the "age" of times is expressed over and over again on this site, and rightly so. Even though the tires may have plenty or even most of the read left, changing nthe tires after 6 years or so is sound advice. I found out the hard way with two rear inner blowouts on a trip. Luckily no wheel well damage with either one.
I am in the process of replacing the front pads on my 2007 class A. I just returned from a trip to New Mexico, placing 3500 miles on the coach and turning over 50,000 miles, while pulling a toad. With the coach being 15years old, and not experiencing any brake problems, I feel like the time factor comes into play.
I pulled off the wheels and pads. Probably about 1/2 of the pad left, and I did not like how they appeared. The rotors are fine. While I have the wheels off I will also repack the wheel bearing and replace the seals.
I have also replaced the serpentine belt before the New Mexico trip. 15 years of age was sufficent to warrant the change.
Also, I have replaced the brake fluid as well. And replaced the coolant.
I understand the manufacturer recommendations for such things, but I also like to be proactive in order to head off any road side breakdowns that I can avoid. Yes it costs, but being able to do my own work, I feel in my case it is time and money well spent.

Great approach to taking care of your rig!