New Gates Fleetrunner Auxiliary belt whines
Discussion
Having replaced the auxiliary belt with a Gates Fleetrunner I find I now have an engine speed related whining noise. I have replaced the tensioner pulley bearing but the new belt still whines.
However, re-fit the old Dayco belt and the whining noise goes away, so the noise is definitely coming from the new Gates belt. New belt has now done 600 miles, surely it should be run-in by now.
However, re-fit the old Dayco belt and the whining noise goes away, so the noise is definitely coming from the new Gates belt. New belt has now done 600 miles, surely it should be run-in by now.
Are the old and new belts exacty the same length?
Are the size and shape of the V grooves very similar?
A new belt would usually be thicker (less worn) and would put fractionally more tension on the pulleys. Hard to imagine why that would cause them to be noisy, but I suppose it might.
Can you track the noise to any particular pulley?
Belt squeal due to slip can often be cured by applying soap or belt dressing to the gripping surface of the belt. Although this doesn't seem like squeal, if it's due to slippage that might help.
Are the size and shape of the V grooves very similar?
A new belt would usually be thicker (less worn) and would put fractionally more tension on the pulleys. Hard to imagine why that would cause them to be noisy, but I suppose it might.
Can you track the noise to any particular pulley?
Belt squeal due to slip can often be cured by applying soap or belt dressing to the gripping surface of the belt. Although this doesn't seem like squeal, if it's due to slippage that might help.
Unlike toothed belts, whining isn't something that poly-V belts are known to do, this kind of noise is typically caused by a tensioner, idler or accessory bearing (alternator, PS pump etc.).
Has it got an automatic tensioner or do you have to manually tension the belt? The tension in an automatic system isn't totally constant over the life of a belt, as it stretches/wears the tensioner forms a more acute angle to the belt and tension reduces somewhat. Lower tension could be masking a bearing on it's way out.
Has it got an automatic tensioner or do you have to manually tension the belt? The tension in an automatic system isn't totally constant over the life of a belt, as it stretches/wears the tensioner forms a more acute angle to the belt and tension reduces somewhat. Lower tension could be masking a bearing on it's way out.
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