Serpentine belt broke.

[tropical36]

Originally Posted by Dennis_K

Gary,
You should check out the newer side radiator coaches (2014+). Many have a belt driven clutch fan that runs over a jack shaft and 90 degree gear box...

I've been seeing that as well and it does look like a lot of machinery there, just to drive a fan. I'm thinking that I like my 2 speed fluid drive, with just some hoses going back to the fan and might be, just a Spartan thing.

[jimmy braden]

Also change tensioner every 2 belts..

Originally Posted by tropical36

Ouch!! and one has to admit and if nothing else, it's sure nice to look at your engine running back there, with what it might be doing or not doing, rather than having your view blocked by a radiator.
In the case you mentioned, with doing it yourself, a side radiator would help tremendously and for doing the work in a campground. Even a mobile mechanic, wouldn't charge that kind of labor.
Certainly a deal breaker for me, with any DP purchase.

Originally Posted by Chargerman

I would agree in regards to only considering a Coach with a side radiator after owning one and working on friends with rear radiators. Soooo painful to work on rear radiator rigs and the radiators get much dirtier much quicker.

:-D

[Super Truck]

We had our belt go out about 2 years ago, I keep a spare one in the coach now, after paying $500.00.

Paul

[oldflyer11]

These belts last a long time. Usually don't break unless something freezes up. In our case, the tensioner froze up. Bought a new heavy duty one from Orielys (under 100 bucks) and bought two gates belts (spare). Our coach is a r/r, so it takes a very long 1/2" breakover bar to put the belt on. I had to move(release) the tensioner while the wife put the belt on. Not fun but got it done. Our coach had only 30k miles at the time.

[Fiesta48]

I keep reading how side radiators are easier to work on the engine.
I would like to counter point.
The drive system for the fan on a rear radiator is far less complicated. No drive shafts, gearboxes, 90 degree changes, no oil changes. Sides are very expensive to work on.
I've read side radiators get dirty too. My rear radiator has no slobber tube. I wash it often. I've placed filters and diverter so less dirt enters.
All the noise of the engine is in the rear away from us.
Rear radiators naturally flow air better into to negative air pressure in the rear of the coach.
I've checked out how junk can get between the CAC and rad. Not from the sides, top or bottom. Only through the fins on the CAC.
Rear rad has to be less expensive initially, and potentially to repair due to less complexity.
OK you side rad coaches are easier to work on but how many of you actually do the repairs?

[tropical36]

Originally Posted by marksheinkopf

Two weeks ago while returning from Western Maryland the serpentine belt on our 2009 Itasca Horizon broke. Warning was high temperatures on coolant and warning on Freightliner dash. Engine is Cummins 8.9 ISL. Stopped rig immediately and called Good Sam Roadside assistance. They promptly got a huge tow truck to us from H & M Truck Service Frederick MD. Thank you to Dale who carefully attached and towed our rig to H & M
Belt had 42,000 miles on it. Damage was to fan clutch and wiring. Repair was over $2,500. Cost of belt was $ 90.00
Advice is to have serpent belt visually inspected annually
Great service from H&M

Are ya sure that something didn't freeze up, like this fan clutch, to cause this, as belts seldom break for no reason?
Some friends had their ac compressor freeze, which broke the belt and have no idea what it cost them for getting back on the road and having their dash ac working again, but sounded very scary to me, $$$$, wise. Saw an engine recently, with a separate belt for the ac compressor and was somewhat impressed with the concept of being able to just keep on trucking, in that event.

[tropical36]

Originally Posted by Fiesta48

I keep reading how side radiators are easier to work on the engine.
I would like to counter point.
The drive system for the fan on a rear radiator is far less complicated. No drive shafts, gearboxes, 90 degree changes, no oil changes. Sides are very expensive to work on.
I've read side radiators get dirty too. My rear radiator has no slobber tube. I wash it often. I've placed filters and diverter so less dirt enters.
All the noise of the engine is in the rear away from us.
Rear radiators naturally flow air better into to negative air pressure in the rear of the coach.
I've checked out how junk can get between the CAC and rad. Not from the sides, top or bottom. Only through the fins on the CAC.
Rear rad has to be less expensive initially, and potentially to repair due to less complexity.
OK you side rad coaches are easier to work on but how many of you actually do the repairs?

Whether you do your own work or not, the labor hours and the costs go up with having a rear radiator.
Not to mention, that a side radiator chassis, is the very last thing provided by a coach manufacture in promoting sales, so that tells you something about the rig, as a whole for quality in workmanship. In other words, have you ever seen a high end coach, with a rear radiator? Have you ever seen a SR, that didn't have the best of everything from the ground up, including the interior furnishings?
Just saying and not trying to knock every RR out there, of which there are many fine examples and especially in the mid entry models.
Back to the RR's and yes they are expensive coaches, but in our case the price is the same by just dropping back in some years to get one, that fits our budget, when purchasing. They are usually in the best condition anyway and easier to find one, that's like new and the only ones we consider.

[tropical36]

Originally Posted by tropical36

Whether you do your own work or not, the labor hours and the costs go up with having a rear radiator.
Not to mention, that a side radiator chassis, is the very last thing provided by a coach manufacture in promoting sales, so that tells you something about the rig, as a whole for quality in workmanship. In other words, have you ever seen a high end coach, with a rear radiator? Have you ever seen a SR, that didn't have the best of everything from the ground up, including the interior furnishings?
Just saying and not trying to knock every RR out there, of which there are many fine examples and especially in the mid entry models.
Back to the RR's and yes they are expensive coaches, but in our case the price is the same by just dropping back in some years to get one, that fits our budget, when purchasing. They are usually in the best condition anyway and easier to find one, that's like new and the only ones we consider.

Made a typo with......"Back to the RR's and yes they are expensive coaches,"......and should have read......Back to the SR's and yes they are expensive coaches.

[tkf]

Our belt broke and had to be towed. The A/C compressor was the cause. The shop owner claimed he never saw a belt break on its own; there was always an underlining reason. $2300.00 repair.

We have a 2015 newmar dutch star with 15,000 miles.