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slow_steamer's avatar
slow_steamer
Explorer
Nov 30, 2015

I keep throwing a fan belt

Short version: How do I get melted fan belt stuff off of fan belt pulleys? Chemicals? Elves? Fire? Nuclear Weapons?

Specifics:
1982 Beaver Catalina
P30 Chassis
Chevy 454

I keep throwing a fan belt in my RV. The same one every time; which is the front one that includes the fan, alternator, crank shaft, and smog pump. The alternator and smog pump turn freely so I think those being stuck are not the current issue. However, because of the buildup on the smog pump pulley I'm guessing that it got stuck once and is the root of the problem.

I can't be sure why it started throwing belts as it did it before I got the RV. It's on the third, or forth, belt since I got it about 500+ miles ago. It was throwing the belt after ten minutes or so and then I noticed a huge buildup of melted rubber on the pulleys. Especially the smog pump pulley. I cleaned them off pretty well and it lasted the past 400 miles. When I checked it today there is a bunch of what I think is rubber in the bottom of the V of the pulley.

Yesterday, on the way home from our weekend trip another one broke. It was after dark plus cold and damp so I had the lights on, heater fan on all the way and a fan blowing on the windshield to keep the fog off of it. We stopped for some Pho not far from home and then about two miles down the road I heard the belt snap and saw the voltage drop to about 12v. Knowing what the problem was I shut off the heat and fan and just kept going. Made it home without further incident. I'm pretty sure that the belt got hot because of the extra load and then stuck because of the pause to get our dinner.

** The reason I even ended up with this particular RV was that it died in the middle of the road right next to my uncles shop. It had overheated and was blowing steam all over the place. (That and a transmission stuck in first gear made it un-drive-able) It was a trade-in and the salesman was attempting to return to the dealership after delivering the new on. Long story short, my father made a great deal on it and now I co-own an antique RV that people accuse me of using to cook meth in. :)

Thanks for the help.

15 Replies

  • Had the same problem with an '84 Pace Arrow P-30. I think you will find that the problem is misalignment of the smog pump. Installed smaller belt that by-passed the smog pump and never had a problem after that.
  • My Dad had an'82 Winnebago Brave with the 454. Possibly the same chassis. Every so often, it would shuck the belts. The alternator was misaligned. I think a spacer was in the wrong place. I'm not sure if it had the original alternator then or not. It was not fun changing belts out on side of road. We always carried a complete set of new ones.
  • OF course check the alignment but I think I'd just go ahead and replace the pulley also and start fresh.
  • Correct belt?

    Correct tensioner-- if automatic tensioner, they DO fail.

    Alignment-- check carefully that all driven accessories are solidly mounted and that belt has no run out or side load from out of line or out of square accessory.

    If all that good, then suspect one or your accessories is failing, causing drag which causes heat which melts rubber which causes the belt to jump/fail.
  • Alignment problem. Time for checking everything with a straight edge. Possible you have a bad idler pully bearing.