Reference: Ford V8 fan belts: off the shelf replacement

[Lauren Child]

You can get spot-on replacements from Macs in the states. It's expensive shipping if that's all you need though.

http://www.macsautoparts.com/early_v8_ford_truck/

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Lauren Child

You can get spot-on replacements from Macs in the states. It's expensive shipping if that's all you need though.

http://www.macsautoparts.com/early_v8_ford_truck/

I just got the belt from my local bearing supplier.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks for finding that old thread, Richard.

I measured a spare BTR 51050 belt I have and surely enough it measures 53 inches on the inside. Combined with approx. 2 mm of wear (not stretching - thanks Richard) it obviously is now over size.

Have searched the internet and a B52 v-belt is an off the shelf item, used in many applications. I will call my local supplier tomorrow, surely this is a faster and cheaper option than buying from the States. But thanks for the suggestion, Lauren.

Will let you know how it all works out - thanks for now!

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Have searched the internet and a B52 v-belt is an off the shelf item, used in many applications.

Found these specs (on a German site, thorough as they are):

Classical V-belts to DIN 2215 Part 1 / ISO 4184

B52 - 17x1320 Li - 17x1360 Ld / Lw

Dimensions:
Internal length (Li): 1320 mm
Effective length (Ld / Lw): 1360 mm
Upper belt width: 17 mm
Lower belt width: 9.4 mm
Belt height: 11 mm
Minimum disc diameter 112 mm
Conversion:
La = Li + 69 mm / La = Ld + 29 mm / Ld = La - 29 mm / Li = Ld - 40 mm

[Richard Farrant]

Hanno,
My Austalian friend emailed last night and the belt he has bought is one of the "toothed" type, a BX52. The metric number is 17 x 1330

regards, Richard

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Then I had a closer look at the old belts. As you can see they sit low down in the pulley, a tell-tale sign of wear. Luckily, the belt was not bottoming out:
IMG_8975_r.jpg IMG_8977_r.jpg

Fitted the same make and size of belt, but unworn (bottom one in LH picture). Worn belt on top of and unworn one - note the obvious difference in length!
IMG_8996_r.jpg IMG_9005_r.jpg

Approximate dimensions (mm) of BTR 51050 V-belt: worn | unworn
Internal length (Li): 1373 | 1355
Upper belt width: 16 | 17
Lower belt width: 8.5| 9.5
So, the width of the belt decreased by 1 mm, and the length increased by 18 mm - they do strech!

Generator bracket is now fitted on the adjustment bolt properly (compare with above), but still at the end of its adjusting range:
IMG_9010_r.jpg

New B52 belts are on order, should be available over the counter tomorrow. While the B52 belts are 35 mm shorter, it will help getting the generator lower down on the adjustment bolt. Stay tuned!

Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

While the B52 belts are 35 mm shorter, it will help getting the generator lower down on the adjustment bolt. Stay tuned!

Well.... Tried fitting the B52 belts yesterday, but they don't fit. With the generator in the lowest position, the belts would not fit over the pulleys. I might have been able to force them on with a screwdriver, but there should be enough slack to fit them by hand.

So I fitted an unworn BTR 51050, which is a B53 size. Those went on easily, but the generator still sits high on the adjustment bolt.

Maybe I should try a B52-1/2.

H.

foto (2).jpg foto (1).jpg

[rob love]

I just went through this exercise of one belt being at the outer limit, and the next available size down was just too short. In my case it is an 8BA engine squeezed into a carrier.

The flatheads with the single water pump pulleys only had a bushing for the water pump shaft. As such, the belts were elft with considerable deflection. Since our CMPs had the heavy duty double pulley water pumps with a more conventional bearing on the pump shafts, you can get away with a little tighter belt.

The new belt will stretch considerably in the first 10 minutes of run time. Rather than forcing it on with a screwdriver, get it started onto the upper pulley as best you can and then turn the fan to get it to take. Once it is on the pulley, you may find it is not that bad. After 10 minutes of run-time, you may find it stretched into specs.