Technical Ac belt hitting lower radiator hose

Can't say I've ever been poor and definitely have not led a charmed life, just capitalized on the life decisions I've made.

 

I don't know but I made up a tensioner that bent the belt backwards like that and the belt did not last very long at all, tried cogged belts and uncogged neither one lasted. And my set up did not bend the belt anywhere near as far as this one. I wish you luck but I would search for a better solution.

 

A V-belt is not designed to run it's backside over a tensioner, unlike today's serpentine belts.

 

Can the AC bracket be switched over to the other side of the engine. It shore looks like there is plenty of room over there ?

 

There ARE belts designed to run with that much 'back-curve'. Check with a Power Transmission supplier.

 

That's why I said a machinery belt, like a lawn mower deck. They are designed to flex both ways and have idler and tension rollers on either side....

 

Will the machinery belt last for 100k miles of highway driving? Just wondering.

 

I might suggest you look at a Alan Grove web site. Might have a bracket to raise your compressor. And I'm not ***ociated with them at all .Also IF ,IF, you need idler pulley with V belt, google it. I need one of those my self. Keep us posted please.

 

Probably not, but most standard automotive belts won't either...

 

Not sure about longevity. My last rod rode on same V-belt for more than 100k miles.
Current rod is at 55k. Same belts, although I have an extra alternator belt under the seat.

 

Good question that I don't have an answer to. The deck belt on my Husky mower lasted five years, cutting gr*** from May to Sept those five years. I'm sure it had more shocks to it from hitting snags and rocks than an automotive engine would put on it.

 

I think 1oldtimer has the best solution short of changing the mounting brackets, the only problem being cutting, fitting and welding all those pieces of tubing together.

And while we're here, you planning to run a heater?

 

You could also have a reverse arch welded in where the belt p***es close by the tube if needed for belt slap. That is very nice work!

 

I don't know either, but so far the belt on my Great Dane has been on there about 12 years. I think those belts are heavier duty and maybe wider than automotive belts so it might not be a fair comparison. I know that there are Kevlar belts available on line and at Tractor Supply. If I was putting an idler on the backside of a V belt, I'd probably stay away from the notched ones as they may be somewhat weaker than the full V ones.

 

I had to put a automotive V belt on a mower once because the parts house was out of the machinery rated belts that length and I had to finish cutting my gr***. I think it lasted about a month before it snapped, it couldn't take the idlers rolling on the top side of it and the reverse flexing. There is some kind of difference in the way the two are manufactured, but I don't know what it is.

 

real hot rods don't have ac

 

the little diesel motor I have in my 46 Willys has a similar issue, the alternator belt is just close enough to the lower radiator hose that when it vibrates while running the belt just kisses the radiator hose.

What I did, was I put some wire around the hose, and put a bit of tension on the hose pulling it down and securing it to the crossmember. it only needed to move down 1/4" or so, and there's still plenty of movement in the hose, but the belt doesn't hit it anymore.

not the prettiest solution, but it's worked for the past 10 years, and 30,000+ miles

 

Belts are not that expensive or hard to change, put a spare in the trunk and move on!

 

^^^^^ Right!!!

 

Good thing that the OP does not own a hot rod.

 

I agree if only for the AC, as it appears in the pic.

 

Except that sometimes when one belt fails , it unloads the others .