Hard wearing single Fan Belts

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Guy

I searched high and low for a good quality belt the right size and length. Couldn't find one in Florida, MX or Belize. Ended up getting one from a street side store in down town Fronteras, Guatemala, go figure. I think it's a Gates.

Funny, Ive bought good quality Gates belts at probably the same shop, big different from the usual no name junk you find in Central America.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Funny, Ive bought good quality Gates belts at probably the same shop, big different from the usual no name junk you find in Central America.

Me too - this is the small, dark, crowded store with all the belts hanging from the ceiling? Couldn't believe I found the exact Gates belt I needed there.

Mark

[model 10]

Originally Posted by colemj

Me too - this is the small, dark, crowded store with all the belts hanging from the ceiling? Couldn't believe I found the exact Gates belt I needed there.

Mark

Part of what was cool about all this, I needed a belt just a little bit shorter than the old one and in my totaly lousy spanish, I got it.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by colemj

Me too - this is the small, dark, crowded store with all the belts hanging from the ceiling? Couldn't believe I found the exact Gates belt I needed there.

Mark

Yep, roughly across from Pesqueros. Ashamed I don't recall the guys name, Ive done business there for years. He is very well stocked...not just belts.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Guy

Part of what was cool about all this, I needed a belt just a little bit shorter than the old one and in my totaly lousy spanish, I got it.

BTW he also speaks English...maybe he was just waiting to see if you could manage it in Spanish. ;-)

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

BTW he also speaks English...maybe he was just waiting to see if you could manage it in Spanish. ;-)

I found what I needed there too! And he strung me along long enough in Spanish until he was grinning like an idiot and I was speaking Spanish like a newborn.......


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[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

I found what I needed there too! And he strung me along long enough in Spanish until he was grinning like an idiot and I was speaking Spanish like a newborn.......

Happened to me in downtown Oakland, CA just last week.

[Emmalina]

I have no name brands on most of my stuff as there is "no brands" to be had around here . I have never had a belt problem in 19 years. My question is if you leave your boat without running the engine for long enough to get rusty pulleys what do you think the state of oil circulation will be ?

[Cadence]

Maybe a case of SAE verses metric?

[lonesoldier0408]

They sold a product called/or was, "Belt Dressing."
If it's a single pulley issue, you might apply some to the pulley, prior to shutting it down for prolonged periods.

[kryg]

Very helpful frankly - I never heard of Belt Dressing for fan belts! Can't wait to test it out

Many Thanks

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by kryg

Very helpful frankly - I never heard of Belt Dressing for fan belts! Can't wait to test it out

Many Thanks

Dont get too excited, At best belt dressing is a temporary solution...it wears off and it wont fix any root cause problems like misaligment.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Maybe a case of SAE verses metric?

Never thought of that...is there such a thing as SAE/metric belts? Will have to research.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Never thought of that...is there such a thing as SAE/metric belts? Will have to research.

Yes. The Volvo OEM belts are metric. However, I haven't had any problems running a 3/8" instead of the 9.5mm.

Mark

[model 10]

Originally Posted by kryg

Very helpful frankly - I never heard of Belt Dressing for fan belts! Can't wait to test it out

Many Thanks

Molasses in a spray can. I have not tried it on cornbread but I can wait.