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Alternator Belt

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chasb(at)satx.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 1:06 am Post subject: Alternator Belt

A recent post regarding alternator abuse mentioned using an  

automotive belt on the alternator rather than an aircraft belt.  

That's the first I ever heard regarding an "aircraft alternator  

belt." I always thought a V- belt is a V-belt.



The belt furnished with my B&C 60 Amp alternator was too short. I  

replaced it with a belt from an auto parts store. Seems to work okay.



Am I asking for trouble?



Charlie Brame

RV-6A  N11CB

San Antonio

Ed Anderson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 475

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:03 am Post subject: Alternator Belt

Charlie, I've found that good quality auto V belts like made by GATES give 

no problem.  However, I have had some poor experience with  lesser quality 

brands.  I only use GATES belts myself.



Ed



Ed Anderson

Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered

Matthews, NC

eanderson(at)carolina.rr.com

http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW

---

_________________
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com

lhelming(at)sigecom.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:37 am Post subject: Alternator Belt

No problem. Just be sure you got a good one.  Vans aircraft recommends using 

a Yates belt.  I would not use a no name special,   Stick with a strong 

brand name and premium grade.  Larry in Indiana

---

nuckollsr(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:15 am Post subject: Alternator Belt

At 03:59 AM 7/6/2006 -0500, you wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



A recent post regarding alternator abuse mentioned using an

automotive belt on the alternator rather than an aircraft belt.

That's the first I ever heard regarding an "aircraft alternator

belt." I always thought a V- belt is a V-belt.



The belt furnished with my B&C 60 Amp alternator was too short. I

replaced it with a belt from an auto parts store. Seems to work okay.


	




     There's no such thing as an "aircraft alternator belt". There

     are thousands of belts by hundreds of manufacturers and they

     range in SERVICE LIFE from mediocre to the best-we-know how

     to do.



     There may be folks who are on a par with GATES for the

     manufacture of belts but I'm not personally familiar with

     who they might be. Perhaps folks on the list who work in

     that venue can offer some insight as to alternative brands.



 	  Quote: 	
		  Am I asking for trouble?


	


     Not if you've crafted your architecture and pilot's mind-set

     for failure tolerant operation. Broken belts are but one of

     many reasons an alternator might decided to quit. If you're

     prepared to deal with an alternator failure on your own terms,

     then no, you're not asking for trouble. But you may decided to

     'upgrade' a belt because you're tired of replacing it. See

     chapter 17 in the 'Connection.



     I've seen airplanes at fly-ins where the owner has installed

     a 'spare' belt over the prop shaft and secured it. This would

     allow a failed belt to be replaced in the field without

     pulling the prop. Given the extra-ordinary stress that a

     belt gets when driving a small-pulley alternator such as

     the B&C, it's probably money well spent to get the best.

     Give B&C a call and ask about their experience with Gates

     belts (that's the brand that probably came with your alternator).



     Bob . . .

      ---------------------------------------------------------

      < What is so wonderful about scientific truth...is that >

      < the authority which determines whether there can be   >

      < debate or not does not reside in some fraternity of   >

      < scientists; nor is it divine. The authority rests     >

      < with experiment.                                      >

      <                            --Lawrence M. Krauss       >

      ---------------------------------------------------------

chaztuna(at)adelphia.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:42 am Post subject: Alternator Belt

 	  Quote: 	
		  snipped



     There's no such thing as an "aircraft alternator belt". There

     are thousands of belts by hundreds of manufacturers and they

     range in SERVICE LIFE from mediocre to the best-we-know how

     to do.



     There may be folks who are on a par with GATES for the

     manufacture of belts but I'm not personally familiar with

     who they might be. Perhaps folks on the list who work in

     that venue can offer some insight as to alternative brands.

 snipped

     Bob . . . 	


 Listers,

  I will second the recommendation of Gates belts. On a par with Gates is the OEM belt supplier for most Japanese cars. The manufacturer is Bando. In the past year, I've found Bando belts easily available from the after-market. I have only found one "off brand" belt which compares to these two. The brand name is Force One. It comes in a black and white cardboard sheath. My local parts supplier carries this brand and I'm impressed with the quality.  On the other hand, I would not use a Dayco brand belt on a go kart!

 Charlie Kuss

FLYaDIVE(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:56 am Post subject: Alternator Belt

In a message dated 7/6/06 9:17:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time, nuckollsr(at)cox.net 

writes:



 	  Quote: 	
		    There's no such thing as an "aircraft alternator belt". There

       are thousands of belts by hundreds of manufacturers and they

       range in SERVICE LIFE from mediocre to the best-we-know how

       to do.

=======================================
	


Don't tell that to the FAA!



Here are the part numbers:



ALT BELT: 37A19773-37 <---  FAA Approved and with an FAA - PMA stamp.  This 

is the Gates Automotive equivalent: (gates belt 3V375).



Now, as I have stated before, there are quality differences.  I have noted 

that when it comes to Original Timing Belts and Serpentine Belts.  The FACTORY 

ORIGINAL is of much better quality than OEM or Auto Store items.  See my long 

post with explanation ... It should be in the archives.



Barry

"Chop'd Liver"

rv9jim(at)juno.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:27 am Post subject: Alternator Belt

Charlie,

        I sell V-Belts for a living and other assorted sundry for

industrial items like bearings.  There is two styles of "V" belts.  one

configuration is "industrial"  and the other is "automotive".    The

difference is in the angle that makes the v-belt.  The automotive is a

narrow "V" and the industrial "V" is a wider angle "V"..  Industrial

belts are designated by their size.  The first letter or number usually

designates the top width.  Such as  A-35 belt.  This is a 1/2" wide belt

that is 35" in circumference on the inside.  A 4L370 is physically the

same just a light duty "A" series. (don't ask !!)   Think of the "L"

meaning light duty.   There is a series called "3V or 3VX that is almost

the exact match to the belts used on aircraft engines.   I will bring

home a 3vx belt and check it out on my engine.  That should put the

confusion and sources to rest.

Jim Nelson

chaztuna(at)adelphia.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:31 am Post subject: Alternator Belt

James,

 I am aware of the industrial Gates belts. I've also seen Gates heavy duty belts referred to as Green Stripe. Are the Green Stripe Gates brand belts the same as the industrial quality units? I often see these used in heavy machinery or in medium and heavy duty trucks. Your recommendation to use the industrial quality belts is well founded. 

 However, for the pilot who is AOG due to a broken belt, he may not be able to find an industrial supplier close by the airport or open (weekends ya' know). That means he has to resort to an auto or farm supply store. He still has a chance of getting a good quality belt, if he knows what to ask for.

 Thanks for adding to this discussion.

Charlie Kuss



---- James H Nelson <rv9jim(at)juno.com> wrote: 

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Charlie,

         I sell V-Belts for a living and other assorted sundry for

 industrial items like bearings.  There is two styles of "V" belts.  one

 configuration is "industrial"  and the other is "automotive".    The

 difference is in the angle that makes the v-belt.  The automotive is a

 narrow "V" and the industrial "V" is a wider angle "V"..  Industrial

 belts are designated by their size.  The first letter or number usually

 designates the top width.  Such as  A-35 belt.  This is a 1/2" wide belt

 that is 35" in circumference on the inside.  A 4L370 is physically the

 same just a light duty "A" series. (don't ask !!)   Think of the "L"

 meaning light duty.   There is a series called "3V or 3VX that is almost

 the exact match to the belts used on aircraft engines.   I will bring

 home a 3vx belt and check it out on my engine.  That should put the

 confusion and sources to rest.

 

 

 Jim Nelson

willslau(at)alumni.rice.e
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 2:18 pm Post subject: Alternator Belt

The Green Stripe belt was/is a "premium" automotive version. I have no specs

on how premium it is, but back in the day it was the preferred belt for

racing Corvairs, where the belt had to go over two idler pulleys, making the

trip from the horizontal crankshaft pulley, then turning 90 degrees to drive

the cooling fan mounted on a vertical axis, then back down another 90 degree

turn to rejoin the crankshft pulley. As you can imagine, this setup on a

6000+ rpm motor was quite a workout for the belt. Generic belts wouldn't

last a day, but the Green Stripe belts gave good service.



William Slaughter



--

Kellym

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1705
Location: Sun Lakes AZ

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:34 pm Post subject: Alternator Belt

I know some Piper owners have received belt from Piper dealer in a Gates 

sleeve, with the Gates number on the belt, and the Piper number hand 

written in silver pen on the belt. I don't know for sure that it was an 

automotive number, but believe that is correct. 9335XL Green Stripe or 

9335HD. Piper number 73965-015 formerly #452-541



James H Nelson wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Charlie,

         I sell V-Belts for a living and other assorted sundry for

 industrial items like bearings.  There is two styles of "V" belts.  one

 configuration is "industrial"  and the other is "automotive".    The

 difference is in the angle that makes the v-belt.  The automotive is a

 narrow "V" and the industrial "V" is a wider angle "V"..  Industrial

 belts are designated by their size.  The first letter or number usually

 designates the top width.  Such as  A-35 belt.  This is a 1/2" wide belt

 that is 35" in circumference on the inside.  A 4L370 is physically the

 same just a light duty "A" series. (don't ask !!)   Think of the "L"

 meaning light duty.   There is a series called "3V or 3VX that is almost

 the exact match to the belts used on aircraft engines.   I will bring

 home a 3vx belt and check it out on my engine.  That should put the

 confusion and sources to rest.

 Jim Nelson

_________________
Kelly McMullen
A&P/IA, EAA Tech Counselor # 5286
KCHD

FLYaDIVE(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:54 pm Post subject: Alternator Belt

In a message dated 7/6/06 9:17:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time, nuckollsr(at)cox.net 

writes:



 	  Quote: 	
		    There's no such thing as an "aircraft alternator belt". There

       are thousands of belts by hundreds of manufacturers and they

       range in SERVICE LIFE from mediocre to the best-we-know how

       to do.

=======================================
	


Don't tell that to the FAA!



Here are the part numbers:



ALT BELT: 37A19773-37 <---  FAA Approved and with an FAA - PMA stamp.  This 

is the Gates Automotive equivalent: (gates belt 3V375).



Now, as I have stated before, there are quality differences.  I have noted 

that when it comes to Original Timing Belts and Serpentine Belts.  The FACTORY 

ORIGINAL is of much better quality than OEM or Auto Store items.  See my long 

post with explanation ... It should be in the archives.



Barry

"Chop'd Liver"

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