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06-24-2016, 08:03 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
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Source for a Replacement Alternator Belt?
At 10 years of age I'm thinking our alternator belt might be ready for replacement as preventative maintenance. After looking the Lycoming part listed in the Aircraft Spruce catalog I have to believe there is a source of belts that are at least as good as those and perhaps not quite as "gold plated" in the price department.
Our current belt is a Gates product. Are most folks going to their local automotive parts supplier for replacement belts? I've also looked at the segmented belt however I'm not sure I've heard very many positive reviews of their use over the long term in an aircraft alternator application.
Thanks in advance for sharing suggestions based on your operational experience.
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06-24-2016, 08:13 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 1,005
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Take the numbers off your old Gates belt (or the whole belt itself) to any auto parts store & they can match it up. No different from a common car V-belt.
__________________
Ralph
built a few RVs, rebuilt a few more, hot rodded some, & maintained/updated a bunch more
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06-24-2016, 08:14 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pocahontas MS
Posts: 3,884
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There's an aircraft version of single V alternator belts??
;-)
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06-24-2016, 08:43 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NC25
Posts: 3,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Canadian_JOY
At 10 years of age I'm thinking our alternator belt might be ready for replacement as preventative maintenance. After looking the Lycoming part listed in the Aircraft Spruce catalog I have to believe there is a source of belts that are at least as good as those and perhaps not quite as "gold plated" in the price department.
Our current belt is a Gates product. Are most folks going to their local automotive parts supplier for replacement belts? I've also looked at the segmented belt however I'm not sure I've heard very many positive reviews of their use over the long term in an aircraft alternator application.
Thanks in advance for sharing suggestions based on your operational experience.
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I use a Gates Automotive belt that I purchased from Amazon. The Gates Automotive belts are listed as NOT For Use On Aircraft but mine is working fine. (2nd Gates belt in 19-years) Typically I do not replace the belt till the prop is off then install a new one.
I prefer the Gates belt as I believe they are the highest quality available. Local auto parts did not have Gates belts but could have furnished a belt from another manufacturer.
__________________
Gary A. Sobek
NC25 RV-6 Flying
3,400+ hours
Where is N157GS
Building RV-8 S/N: 80012
To most people, the sky is the limit.
To those who love aviation, the sky is home.
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06-24-2016, 09:34 PM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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Just got a new alternator belt today from the local NAPA.
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Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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06-24-2016, 09:56 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: KC, MO
Posts: 374
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...
If you have one belt that is good, but just makes you nervous, you can keep them both on. I've never tired it with the RV. A lot of guys I know keep two on. You band one out of the way. If one breaks, you don't have to pull the prop to mount the other one. Very handle of it breaks while traveling.
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RV-4 - 0-320 (160HP)
www.KCFlight.org
Tinker
ATP/CFI/II/MEI
N617TN
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06-25-2016, 03:15 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Defiance, MO
Posts: 1,674
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I have been happy with the Dayco Top Cog V-belts. Available at local auto parts store and high performance racing shops.
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Philip
RV-6A - 14+ years, 950+ hours
Based at 1H0 (Creve Coeur)
Paid dues yearly since 2007
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06-25-2016, 04:52 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
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Thanks for confirming the local auto parts store as a good source of supply for these belts. Much appreciated!
I've seen the second belt installed on a couple of airplanes. No way do I want to take the constant speed prop off to have to change a belt. The only reason I'm looking at changing ours now is because the prop is off for other reasons and I thought I should take advantage of this opportunity. Believe it or not, the lack of an alternator drive belt is one of the reasons why I really like Continental engines...
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06-25-2016, 06:28 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 650
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Dayco belt available in Stittsville
Hey Mark,
I just replaced my PP alternator belt a couple of months ago as a precautionary measure after 700 hrs / 7 years. I obtained mine from Prime Choice Autoparts in Stittsville. Gave them a call and they ordered it since they don't have stock, but got it in a day. I asked for a Gates or Dayco, and they were able to get Dayco.
I too thought of a spare belt, however I would rather replace the belt at regular intervals and not have the spare belt sitting in a hot engine environment baking away. Then again I have a fixed pitch prop.
__________________
Alfio
RV-9A Ottawa, Canada
First flight Dec. 18, 2008
> 1,000 hrs tach.
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06-25-2016, 06:38 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central IL
Posts: 5,516
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When I worked at Conti - the engineers said that the belts are exactly the same. They are tracked differently for traceability.
I got a dayco "cog belt" with my PP alternator.
__________________
Bill
RV-7
Lord Kelvin:
“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about,
and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind.”
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