Fan belt rant

[themechanic]

I have purchased 2 sets of Gates XL fan belts for my two groove pulley AC. One set from O'Reilly's for $40 each and the other set from an Amazon seller for $26 each. They are supposed to be the same length.

However, I had to return both sets due to each set having one belt longer than the other. Mind you, they have the same part numbers on the belts.

The house brand from O'Reilly's fit perfectly but squeal at 2200 RPMS and above. Their belts are $10 each.

Gates are supposed to be the best. Well, they're not anymore.

P.S. Gates belts have cogs or notches that vary in size in a repeating pattern: 1 big and 3 small. The cogs on the cheap O'Reilly's belts are all the same. Perhaps that's how Gates provide a better grip.

 

[T2R9]

I always buy 4 of the Gates ones from Amazon and match the two closest ones up and return the others. Been a crap shoot on these for a few years.

 

[F4R/T]

I guess you can’t order matched sets anymore...

 

[themechanic]

I guess you can’t order matched sets anymore...

I haven't been able to find them sold that way.

 

[Darter6]

I guess you can’t order matched sets anymore...

Yep, Way back when you would use run numbers when the belts were manufactured before cut to width.Some of the Mack trucks we had ran 3 or 4 belts.When ordering from the parts store we always asked for "Matched". Try that today and you will get "Huh ?"

 

[Photon440]

I've had a couple of Gates belts blow apart on my ride-on mower. I'd rather use Continental or Goodyear.

 

[themechanic]

Well, that figures. Blackstone ruins everything it touches with its greedy tentacles.


Blackstone Announces Closing of Gates Acquisition - Blackstone.

 

[kiwigtx]

I guess you can’t order matched sets anymore...

Not Mopar, but my buddy told me to get some belts for my Toyota van last year, as he was out of town,, and we would fit them that weekend. Turns out he had to order them for me after all.. .... the two Gates belts I bought were different. Cliffy ordered me a "matched pair" of genuine Toyota belts - and bugger me, they were cheaper than the Gates 'Parts Store' belts I paid through the nose for from our local Auto chain "Rapeco"....I mean Repco.

REPCO is our largest chain auto parts store.... acronym is aka "Rip Every Poor C*** Off"

 

[Lefty71]

I guess you can’t order matched sets anymore.

This comes up periodically, and shamefully it is a thing of the past.

Another two cents i will throw it tho......being in the HVAC biz i will say...you cant see when your iron is worn easily, but it does indeed wear. At some point the pulleys definately share some blame in slippage and inefficiency.

 

[ckessel]

The cogged belts suck eggs. I can't remember what to look for, but there is a batch/drum code on them that will tell you if they are truly matched. They used to tie them together with red tape but you could still match them by that code even if they weren't tied together.

 

[themechanic]

This comes up periodically, and shamefully it is a thing of the past.

Another two cents i will throw it tho......being in the HVAC biz i will say...you cant see when your iron is worn easily, but it does indeed wear. At some point the pulleys definately share some blame in slippage and inefficiency.

All my pulleys are brand new from Bouchillon Performance Engineering.

 

[oldkimmer]

If the belts have the cogs on the inside they will always slip/squeal. I run the Top Cog belts, but off the top of my head I can’t remember who makes them. Kim

 

[Davefinan]

Does Dayton still make belts? I recall that they were a decent quality.

 

[Davefinan]

But I think gates was always considered better.

 

[BMosely]

Off Amazon. I have run these for a few years now. I bought a few sizes in 1/2” increments originally to get it right. Go as small as possible for the primary install as any of these old belt styles stretch pretty bad with big power. I can’t tell you how pissed off I get to push the go pedal and hear a $10 belt tell me “your momma jokes”. Also, there are a bunch of pulley widths which was news to me. The V belt should ride slightly proud over the pulley edge.

 

[ckessel]

Dayco[ Dayton] was another brand that was popular. However their belts ran a little wide. Gates would be 3/8, 7/16, 1/2". Dayco would be 13/32, 15/32, 17/32. Gates changed their belts in the early 90's to the cogged. Gates made them for NAPA at that time. When I was working at a NAPA store, early 90's, NAPA had their premium line which was the cogged. Their "silver" line, lesser expensive, was the old style solid Gates. We had a repair shop next to the store and they gave me their take on the "premium" belts. The "premium" belts left a rubber dust trail under the hood and would squeal. The "silver line" belts didn't have that problem. Next time I talk to my old boss from the speed shop, I'll ask him about the belt codes for matches.

 

[Davefinan]

Oh yeah. It was Dayco , thanks

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

McMaster Carr might be worth a look?.
McMaster-Carr

I just picked a random size. They have what looks to be all sizes and it specifically mentions for multiple belt drives.

 

[Some Car Guy]

I run Conti that I got from summit. Rockauto used to have them too. I think Goodyear owns them now though. I just put on a Goodyear ps belt off Amazon, used an ac delco for the water pump. The conti ones on the ac are only a few years old and were a great match. Suppose I got lucky.

I’ll tell what are total trash- repop belts from I believe quanta brand. Terrible junk *** stuff. Did look good when I first put them on, before the stretched like stretch Armstrong toy. First drive.

 

[Geoff 2]

There is less rubber in cogged belts so they stretch/squeal more. I avoid them at all cost.