Yoohoo belt lasted about 30 miles, any ideas?
 

So I just installed a yoohoo belt on my 83 GS today along with a new alternator belt as the old one was squealing over 4k rpm. I bought a brand new 3L220 (Gates 1220 belt, same thing per the Gates website) belt from the local parts store and walked it onto the pulley like everyone says to do. Anyway, it worked great for about 20 miles and then on the way home the belt started squealing again at higher RPM and I could smell burning rubber. Got home and the alternator belt looks fine, still tight but the yoohoo belt was hot and starting to shred and fray from the outside edges and the belt had lost all tension since it was getting narrower and moving deeper into the groove on the pulley. The only thing I can think of that might have caused the failure was the slight rust buildup in the pulley groove from running without a belt there for a while. Any ideas on what to do here? I liked being able to rev without squeal.

same thing happened to me with 2 yoohoo belts. 1st one lasted about a month, then snapped on I-5 on my way home from work in 100+ degree heat. 2nd one lasted about 30 miles and snapped on my way to work the next morning. In both cases, they were walked on correctly, and then got super hot and started shredding themselves apart. I've heard that it can take over 10 different yoohoo belts to find one that isn't too loose or too tight, its just a matter of returning it and then getting a new one. I said "fuck it" and bought a Gilmer pulley system from tweakit.net in Aus.

I just cut this one off since I didnt feel like pulling the fan again. What a bunch of crap. Are the ones from Pineapple Racing any better?

nope. That's where I got both of mine. Pineapple is 20 mins from my house. RB sells a single sheave pulley system, but I think that is for engines with an electric water pump. Idk, yoohoos are just a hassle until you find one that actually works.

It broke because they're not designed to be used like that. they're either too small or too big from everyone I've seen. Too big and they slip too small and they seem to work, but put way too much pressure on the front bearing. There have been threads about front bearing failure after putting on a yahoo belt. Buy a $20 Chrysler pulley and just run 2 alternator belts. It's been proven to work without any drawbacks like the "yahoo" belt.

What chrysler pulley?

I've been running on a single regular belt and haven't had an issue (Well until my water pump bearing started going and was breaking the belts, but just had to loosen it up a bit and it was all good.

My first yahoo belt ate it self, Pineapple gave me a free replacement. the second has been holding up so far. I haven't looked at it this week, Hopefully the heat didn't kill it.

Now there is also another thing that could be eating it up. Check your water pump for any play (bearing play) same goes for the alternator. If you have play in any of those, it will eat belt up no matter what. What you actually have to do is loosen the belt to prevent it from happening and putting more stress on the bearing till you get that fixed.

This is a thread about the chrysler pulley. Not problem free.

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/double-alt-pulley-problems-852708/

What's a yoohoo belt?

I'm a big fan of the mitsubishi (chrysler) dual pulley solution. Works great and looks cool.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...DSCF1067-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...DSCF1068-1.jpg

Well after looking at the options I ordered an RE Speed dual sheave pulley today. The Chrysler pulley looks like a fair option for the price but some people were saying that the groove for the outside belt is too far in which eats the belt. Looks like the RE Speed pulley is made with the same groove spacing as the other pulleys and for $25 it looks fancy too :) Any recommendations on belt brands? I just normally run the gates (carquest) belts but I know gatorbacks are a good choice too. Anyone have any other super secret kick butt belt options (preferably ones that are manufactured to a higher tolerance so they are more likely to achieve the same tension)?

Gates Rubber's belts are great quality, and still manfuactured in the United States.

LOL! Are you serious? That's hardly a problem. the guy asked it it was a problem and everyone told him if he buys the correct belts nothing will or ever has happened... so not problem free, but a much better option than a yahoo belt. Only Yahoo's run a yoohoo. Yoohoo is ment to be drank not put in your engine bay. Boy I crack myself up!

Now don't quote me on this and please correct me if im wrong, but I'm pretty sure ReSpeed is selling the mitsubishi pulley. I don't think they're manufacturing their own..

been running the lawnmower belt, not the pineapple racing one, i think this one is the 3L220? or something like that for a lawn mower, i was driving by, i saw a random lawnmower shop i bought it there, for about 8 bucks, i thought it was expensive, but so far it's lasted a year and still no real sign of wear, besides it being dirty.

Hum, I dont know. I assumed it was their own design. Guess I'll find out when it shows up.

I've never had a problem just running a single Gatorback belt, even when I had a clutch fan.

My yoohoo problems were such a good excuse to go extremely overboard with a gilmer.:lol: Oh, the things I do after a paycheck....It is definitely a better option to go with the Re-speed pulley for a street car (especially if you want to run A/C):icon_tup:

The gilmer drive setup looks awesome but I would feel guilty running it without a supercharger lol.

Don't worry, I'm going turbo next spring.

Does anyone know for sure if the E Speed pulley is the same as the chrysler one? I just got an e-mail saying its on a 2 week back order.

Yes I have seen the respeed dual pulley and it is identical to the chrysler (mitusbishi) pulley, which is what you see in the picture above. Both are cadmium plated, same dimensions and almost certainly the same manufacturer (http://foxed.ca/RX-7/WAI%20PART%20DESCRIPTION.pdf).

I know that since respeed started stocking these they have been a real hot item but it sounds like they are getting more in, so I'd just go with them, they are pretty hard to find otherwise.

The Re-Speed pulley is worth saving a trip to the junkyard to dig through minivans, plus it's cheap and clean. If you don't have an electric impact to take on the yard with you, the junkard trip can be a pain in the ass.

Just my .02