squealing yoohoo belt
 

I notice there is alot of deflection with the 3L220 v belt. without there being a way to increase the tension, is it normal for a yoohoo belt to squeal at low rpms? (or this a symptom of a problem with the main pulley or water pump pulley)

where did you get your belt from? and what its for?

Belt could be a little long. How hard was it to put on?

My belt is nice and tight....

Its a GATES not sure if one brand is better of worse.......

Jay
1984 FB

What it's for?
It's a cheap solution to the problem that when you remove the Air Pump, there's very little contact of belts on the water pump (only the alt belt just grazes the side of it).

So they take a smaller belt and stretch it over the main e-shaft pulley and the water pump pulley, giving a second main point of contact.

As for the original question:
I had one that was a little loose, so I replaced it. Aparently not all belts are created equal, as the second one was a bugger to get on there, and held pretty tight.

You should also use 'belt dressing'. It's the oddest substance in the world. I got it in a spray can at my local auto parts store and it said right on the can "Prevents Belt Slippage" and "Lubricates For Long Belt Life". How it can do both doesn't make sense until you get some on your fingers...

It's sticky and slippery all at the same time. It's hard to explain. Just get some. It'll stop belt squeal real quick.

Jon

Is it like a spray-on wax?

I've never needed to use a yoo-hoo belt on any of my rotary cars, I've always used quality belts by either Gates or Mitsuboshi and kept 'em tight.

Yes, exactly. Belts are given a *nominal* size; every one is slightly a different length. Does not normally matter because you have tensioners to fine tune the tension. But in this application you might need to try a couple different belts to get the "right" one. Just buy one and slip it on in the parking lot of the hardware store. If it's too tight or too loose, just take it back inside and exchange it. Obviously, if you have AC or PS, this might have to happen at home, but you should not have to try more than a couple before you get an acceptable fit. Often you get lucky the first time.

BTW, this is also the reason why double sheeve pulleys are such a bad idea. As two belts cannot possibly be the exact same length, you can never equalize the tension, so one is too loose and slips or one is too tight and causes other problems and perhaps even breaks...and if one breaks, it usually takes the second belt with it.

Rob and I have been testing a new Yoohoo belt that seems promising. More expensive than a 3L220, but seems to fit more consistently, is stonger and it's green (our corporate color!) :) Stay tuned...it will soon appear on our web site in the store once we get a good supply of them.

As for the squeeling noise of the thread starter, are you sure it's the Yoohoo belt that is squeeling and not the alt belt, or perhaps another belt (if you have accessories)? The Yoohoo really does not carry much load except when the alt belt wants to slip.