Belt Dressing? Do they work?

[Peter ng]

I have seen many different types of belt dressings, sprays that claim
to help worn belts and preserve them. Do they really do anything?
Does it damage the belt? Thanks.

[Paul V Garvey]

I was told a blast of WD-40 will temporarily stop a squealing belt. My
question is what effect (good,bad,or indifferent) will WD-40 have on the
belt.

[Kevin Hodge]

They work as a quick fix. Replace the belt asap!
--
"What does not kill me will only make me stronger."

[Pete Dumbleton]

Belt dressing seems to be a lube; someone told me once that the theory is
that the dressing allows a (slightly glazed, properly tensioned) belt to
slip *deeper* into the V, where pinching creates enuf friction to overcome
the lube effect of the dressing *and* the slickness of the belt. I dunno
if that's true, but belt dressing works. Be careful not to overtighten a
belt glazed from friction; bearing damage may result.

Pete Dumbleton sf...@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us

Grant Moyer (Rac...@nbn.net) wrote:
: I wouldn't recommend using a lubricant on the belt. The squealing is
: due to slippage from lack of tension. Adjust the drive for more
: tension.

: Paul V Garvey wrote:
: >
: > I was told a blast of WD-40 will temporarily stop a squealing belt. My

[P. J. Remner]

In a previous article, sf...@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us (Pete Dumbleton) says:

>Belt dressing seems to be a lube; someone told me once that the theory is
>that the dressing allows a (slightly glazed, properly tensioned) belt to
>slip *deeper* into the V, where pinching creates enuf friction to overcome
>the lube effect of the dressing *and* the slickness of the belt. I dunno
>if that's true, but belt dressing works. Be careful not to overtighten a
>belt glazed from friction; bearing damage may result.

I thought belt dressing was a gummifier (for lack of better term).

I bought it because I noticed my alternator belt was a bit loose.
Every time I went through a puddle, the water would splash all over
the alternator and belt (mounted, wouldn't you know, on the lower
curb side of the engine, right where puddles splash) and the belt
would squeal, sometimes making the alternator light flash. Plus,
the noise under acceleration in the cold...

Anyway, I went to adjust it, and there's nothing holding the alternator
in. Both mounting bolts are just sheared off, and it's just rust and
aluminum oxide holding the thing in place. The belt tension is about
twice as slack as it should be (3/4" of play vs. 3/8") and I just need
something to keep the poor thing going until I can afford a reman
alternator, because I *know* that those old bolts won't come out. :-(

- Pete (Plus, my mileage suddenly sank to 5mpg. Ack!)
--
'72 T-bird, 429 4bbl, C6, 2.77:1 open 9", 14mpg!

aj...@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (cycle-ling)
"I just get tired of saying 'butt' sometimes."

[Jon Height]

sf...@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us (Pete Dumbleton) wrote:

>Belt dressing seems to be a lube; someone told me once that the theory is
>that the dressing allows a (slightly glazed, properly tensioned) belt to
>slip *deeper* into the V, where pinching creates enuf friction to overcome
>the lube effect of the dressing *and* the slickness of the belt. I dunno
>if that's true, but belt dressing works. Be careful not to overtighten a
>belt glazed from friction; bearing damage may result.

>Pete Dumbleton sf...@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us

>Grant Moyer (Rac...@nbn.net) wrote:
>: I wouldn't recommend using a lubricant on the belt. The squealing is
>: due to slippage from lack of tension. Adjust the drive for more
>: tension.

>: Paul V Garvey wrote:
>: >
>: > I was told a blast of WD-40 will temporarily stop a squealing belt. My
>: > question is what effect (good,bad,or indifferent) will WD-40 have on the
>: > belt.

All types of dressing including WD-40 work for short time,an hour at
best. I've tried 'em all

Tech since 1969

[Richard A. Thomas, Jr.]

Common types of belt dressings are messy. Instead use a common vinyl
protector, such as Armor All, Formula 2001, ect. It softens the rubber and
will quiet those noisey belts down.
Rich
Rich Thomas, Jr.

[Sean Harrison]

For about 1 day!!!!!!

GET A NEW BELT

[Glen Grant]

RTho...@gnn.com (Richard A. Thomas, Jr.) wrote:
>Common types of belt dressings are messy. Instead use a common vinyl
>protector, such as Armor All, Formula 2001, ect. It softens the rubber and
>will quiet those noisey belts down.
> Rich
>Rich Thomas, Jr.
>

Have to admit I have never heard of that one . Most of those products
make vinyl and rubber more slippery , I would think this would make the
problem worse . Never tried it though . Never had any problem with the
belt dressing in the spray cans , just spray on the belt and around the
smallest pulley it will usually quiet it right down .

[frcn]

One of the greatest benefits of belt dressing is that the belt will operate
without slipping under less tension. This puts less side thrust on the bearings
of the alternator, water pump, smog pump, etc. Failure of these items is
often a bearing related failure.

The aerosol type dressing is the way to go...

From Randy.... AKA "-ED" at the....
_______ _______ _______ _
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| ( | (\ ( | | | | \ |
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|/ (_) |/ \__/ (_) (_______/ (_) |/ )_) (_)

Feather River Canyon News
"Fruit Of The Plume" -AKA 'That frcn paper'
Serving The Community Since 1986

"The opinions herein expressed are those
of the management,because I own the
paper, and I am the management.
Heck- I don't even HAVE any employees"

[John Hess]

In article <4jeoaf$2...@quiknet3.quiknet.com>, fr...@quiknet.com says...

The best belt dressing for a v-belt is (probably) still ivory soap. Take a
soap bar and let it rub against all the belt surfaces while the engine is
running. Do this with every oil change and it is as good as anything on the
market (and a lot cheaper). For the endless loop belts, change them about
every 50,000 miles and forget them.

[John Hess]

In article <4jp7dk$1...@hacgate2.hac.com>, gmg...@ccgate.hac.com says...
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>Assuming that there is a perfect, ideal tension for a v-belt, is it
>better to have it a little bit tighter than that, or a little bit looser?
>The people in service shops used to adjust mine loose, and they would
>tend to glaze and slip eventually. Now I adjust them myself using a
>kriket gauge to the specs in my service manual (which is much, much
>tighter than the way the service shops adjusted them) and there is no
>slippage and they seem to be wearing better and lasting longer. And on a
>side note, I was under the impression that the purpose of belt dressing
>was to keep the belt material from drying-out faster than it normally
>would to make it last longer as opposed to keeping the belt from
>slipping.
>
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>gmg...@ccgate.hac.com "How stupid do they think I am?!" -- Homer
>---------------------------------287651021229876--

I think you have answered your own question. Follow the manufacturer's
recommendation unless you have the time and money to repeat the tests
conducted to reach their published conclusion. Tolerances have a real
meaning!