Emergency alternator belt

dulcibella

dulcibella

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Location
Portsmouth, UK
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My Beta Engine requires disconnection of both hoses to/from the raw water pump before it is possible to replace the alternator belt. I've wondered about the link belts sold by Mailspeed Marine - are they any good as a get-you-home solution?
 
I don't know about the link belts you mention, but the old story was that womens' tights can be used as an emergency fan / alternator belt ( don't blame me if it goes kaboom ! ) .

MM have a very poor reputation here but who knows, people may have been unlucky...
 
I have one as a permanent fitting. Much better than a trad belt. Been on 4 years now much cleaner dust wise and less adjustment required. I carry spare links just in case. Only thing that does concern me slightly is that it would be a bit of a chainsaw if it did break! Having said that the old fabric / rubber belts went straight into the bilge when they snapped. I'd certainly recommend one.
 
dulcibella said:
My Beta Engine requires disconnection of both hoses to/from the raw water pump before it is possible to replace the alternator belt. I've wondered about the link belts sold by Mailspeed Marine - are they any good as a get-you-home solution?
Click to expand...

Couldn't you have a spare proper belt already positioned the other side of the hoses and cable-tied safely away from moving parts?
 
oldbilbo said:
I'm sure one could use a length of Dyneema-Dux with a modified Brummel Splice to make up an effective emergency alternator/pump belt.
Click to expand...

Oldbilbo,

Ok I'll bite; WTF is a modified Brummel splice; is it like the golden rivet or basket of green oil for the starboard nav light, or long weight the apprentice is sent to get ?!

I freely admit I have a mental block about splicing and just don't get it, but am a dab hand at whipping, ooh err missus...

I always thought the Brummel Navy a decent lot if sometimes amusing.
 
Seajet said:
MM have a very poor reputation here but who knows, people may have been unlucky...
Click to expand...

Careful - it's Marine Megastore that's famously ****. Please don't tar with the same brush every chandler whose initials are MM.

Unless you know something about Mailspeed that I don't? I've bought stuff from them without problems.

Pete
 
Seajet said:
Oldbilbo,

Ok I'll bite; WTF is a modified Brummel splice; is it like the golden rivet or basket of green oil for the starboard nav light, or long weight the apprentice is sent to get ?!

I freely admit I have a mental block about splicing and just don't get it, but am a dab hand at whipping, ooh err missus...

I always thought the Brummel Navy a decent lot if sometimes amusing.
Click to expand...
The modified brummel splice does exist but would have to be further modified to create a loop suitable for emergency fan belt. I haven't found a video for this. I would prefer to ask a crew member to remove their tights - far more entertaining!
 
Seajet said:
Oldbilbo,

Ok I'll bite; WTF is a modified Brummel splice; is it like the golden rivet or basket of green oil for the starboard nav light, or long weight the apprentice is sent to get ?!
Click to expand...

You really surprise me, and remind me of the noob first-tourist pilote who was sent off to the upwind threshold of the active runway, more than a mile away, with a large Kilner jar and a blank T-phigram form, and told to do a Passive Bernouilli Count - "Just like you were taught in Basic Flying Training..."

Four hours later they sent someone in a Landy to fetch him back. ;)

Does your old 'puter not stretch to 'Google' or are you having an attack of 'dyslexia of the digits'....?

Otherwise, get thee hence and learn sumfink!! :cool:
 
I once replaced a fan belt on a car with a temporary one from a garage. It was a length of plastic tube and a brass back to back mini horsetail thing.

The centrifugal force from the brass thing threw it of as soon as engine speed was increased. Total pile of ****!!!

I'm sure the segment ones will be far better.
 
If you are the sort of person who is careful enough to think about a spare fan belt the chances are you will never need to use it!
 
dulcibella said:
My Beta Engine requires disconnection of both hoses to/from the raw water pump before it is possible to replace the alternator belt. I've wondered about the link belts sold by Mailspeed Marine - are they any good as a get-you-home solution?
Click to expand...

I never had the problem of having to disconnect the hoses from the raw water pump to replace the belt. However, I did have the problem of going through belts at a fair old rate.

Beta do a conversion to a polyvee belt, and since I changed over, I've never had to replace a belt.

Here's pictures of "before" mand "after". Note the black belt dust on the "before" shot
 
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Had the link belt on a boxford lathe, it would take 3/4HP, quite happily. A bit expensive for a spare belt, it cost £75.
What about changing for flat belts, more reliable than Vee's?
 
as suggested by pvb, this is exactly what I have with my Beta; a spare belt already inserted behind the cooling water lines and tied back to the water filter with cable ties - can be fitted in no time if required.

Also, my Beta accepts a bog standard Halfords 'A' section belt and is therefore a cheap but effective replacement.
 
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