Problems with Serpentine Belt
TECH Resident
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 832
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From: Castro Valley, CA
OK, this is gonna sound goofy, but it worked for me. If going to a "walled" tensioner like the Katech doesn't help, and shimming doesn't help... consider going to a 5-rib belt instead of the 6-rib.
As an unaltered 6-rib, my belts would stay on for a bit before they'd start to wear on the edge... and then they'd walk a bit, fray some more, and then finally thrash themselves to death. I took a brand new 6-rib and carefully removed one of the ribs... and this belt has been fine on the car. It seemed like the matching width of the belt and the lipped tensioner was causing some of the damage. Clearly, my setup is misaligned to a certain degree.
As an unaltered 6-rib, my belts would stay on for a bit before they'd start to wear on the edge... and then they'd walk a bit, fray some more, and then finally thrash themselves to death. I took a brand new 6-rib and carefully removed one of the ribs... and this belt has been fine on the car. It seemed like the matching width of the belt and the lipped tensioner was causing some of the damage. Clearly, my setup is misaligned to a certain degree.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 598
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From: Georgetown, Texas
Well no walkage yet after the new tensioner was installed. I just can't get my belt tight now. I'm talking with SmokinHawk about getting his alternator relocation kit.
OK, this is gonna sound goofy, but it worked for me. If going to a "walled" tensioner like the Katech doesn't help, and shimming doesn't help... consider going to a 5-rib belt instead of the 6-rib.
As an unaltered 6-rib, my belts would stay on for a bit before they'd start to wear on the edge... and then they'd walk a bit, fray some more, and then finally thrash themselves to death. I took a brand new 6-rib and carefully removed one of the ribs... and this belt has been fine on the car. It seemed like the matching width of the belt and the lipped tensioner was causing some of the damage. Clearly, my setup is misaligned to a certain degree.
As an unaltered 6-rib, my belts would stay on for a bit before they'd start to wear on the edge... and then they'd walk a bit, fray some more, and then finally thrash themselves to death. I took a brand new 6-rib and carefully removed one of the ribs... and this belt has been fine on the car. It seemed like the matching width of the belt and the lipped tensioner was causing some of the damage. Clearly, my setup is misaligned to a certain degree.
Pat, be ready to have to align your relocation bracket. You can eyeball it looking down at the rest of the pulleys by using one eye to see the alt pulley from the side so that the pulley's outer rim looks like a flat line against the other pulleys. I'm 99% sure yours won't be aligned with the other pulleys, which should solve all your problems.
I had that same issue where it would walk 2 ribs with my stock tensioner. I was told that at certain rpm's the stock tensioner oscillates and the belt can jump. Finally had one night where I threw the whole belt after racing a Cobra (Yeah I got him). Installed a new belt and called Katech the next morning and Jason brought me a tensioner that night (met up cruising). No problems after the new tensioner. I am guessing the spring in the stock one was worn out and not up to the task with the extra power the engine is making now.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 598
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From: Georgetown, Texas
Going to go ahead and get a new relocation bracket. It is still jumping but only by one rib now. With this ghetto relocation bracket I have, I can't seem to get it lined up perfectly. 
