The Ford Barn

mgambuzza · 05-27-2021, 07:09 PM

Although I've already put over a 100 miles since buying my Model A in October, one item I never checked until recently was the fan belt - DISASTER waiting to happen. As seen in the pictures below it would be just a matter of time before I would've been stranded. Ordered a couple days ago from Brattons, and today I'm good to go, and much better off than I was or would've been.

Gene F · 05-27-2021, 07:15 PM

I date the back of mine with a silver sharpie. Time flies faster than a radiator fan. LOL

J Franklin · 05-27-2021, 09:40 PM

A lost belt should never strand a model a driver, you'll just get home a little later than you thought. Your car will run a long time without a belt except in stop and go traffic.

ursus · 05-27-2021, 10:12 PM

In many parts of North America, the fan belt could be removed in November and replaced in April, with no loss of cooling capacity, a faster warm-up, and at least 1 more horsepower. Just saying,...

Synchro909 · 05-27-2021, 10:20 PM

Just before we left on one of our long tours, I noticed the belt was like that. I was about to replace it but didn't - I left a new one on the floor in the back along with a spanner. It finally delaminated enough to cause a ruckus under the bonnet 2,500 miles later. When we arrived at the National Meet, there was a guy who had driven over 2,000 miles with no working water pump. The car ran a little warmer than usual but he stayed on 50 mph or more without damage to the car. If the belt breaks, it is possible to drive on except in stop/start traffic as has been said. The other thing you would lose is power output from the generator. If you don't use the starter or lights, you can drive a LONG way on what is in a good battery.

HD Rider · 05-28-2021, 11:21 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

A friend once lost his belt on a trip from Stockton Ca to Reno NV for Hot August Nights. He used his wife's pantyhose to make it over the mountain into Reno. That was on a SBC powered pickup.

McMimmcs · 05-28-2021, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Rider

A friend once lost his belt on a trip from Stockton Ca to Reno NV for Hot August Nights. He used his wife's pantyhose to make it over the mountain into Reno. That was on a SBC powered pickup.

I don’t think they even sell panty hose now.

McMimmcs · 05-28-2021, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Franklin

A lost belt should never strand a model a driver, you'll just get home a little later than you thought. Your car will run a long time without a belt except in stop and go traffic.

Very good to know, never heard that before! Thanks

McMimmcs · 05-28-2021, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene F

I date the back of mine with a silver sharpie. Time flies faster than a radiator fan. LOL

And after you date it, what next?

critter · 05-28-2021, 12:50 PM

Wouldn't have too much faith in the panty hose as a belt. Tried it and it didn't work for me,

Gene F · 05-28-2021, 06:56 PM

I start looking at it a bit more closely in the early months of year 4. If I have a maintenance project going from there then I change it. They last a long time. Not a lot of pull on them, and I tend to drive my car every few weeks during the summer, and take it out, or warm it up 3 or 4 times during the off-season.

WHN · 05-28-2021, 07:45 PM

Model A’s like the Model T use a siphon cooling system. Pump is there to help, the siphon moves most of the coolant.

johnbuckley · 05-29-2021, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Franklin

...... Your car will run a long time without a belt except in stop and go traffic.

Really? I always assumed a non-revolving water pump would have restricted the flow too much .

J Franklin · 05-29-2021, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnbuckley

Really? I always assumed a non-revolving water pump would have restricted the flow too much .

I drove about 65 miles without fan belt once and didn't overheat. Water seems to get where it wants to go.

katy · 05-29-2021, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnbuckley

Really? I always assumed a non-revolving water pump would have restricted the flow too much .

It depends on the design of the pump, Model A pumps are pretty low tech design.

Chuck Sea/Tac · 05-30-2021, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ursus

In many parts of North America, the fan belt could be removed in November and replaced in April, with no loss of cooling capacity, a faster warm-up, and at least 1 more horsepower. Just saying,...

So, what did they do to keep the battery up? Must of charged it frequently?

J Franklin · 05-30-2021, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Sea/Tac

So, what did they do to keep the battery up? Must of charged it frequently?

URSUS was referring to cooling capacity.

05-27-2021, 07:15 PM	#2
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,951	Re: Check those belts I date the back of mine with a silver sharpie. Time flies faster than a radiator fan. LOL

05-27-2021, 09:40 PM	#3
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,958	Re: Check those belts A lost belt should never strand a model a driver, you'll just get home a little later than you thought. Your car will run a long time without a belt except in stop and go traffic.

05-27-2021, 10:12 PM	#4
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,372	Re: Check those belts In many parts of North America, the fan belt could be removed in November and replaced in April, with no loss of cooling capacity, a faster warm-up, and at least 1 more horsepower. Just saying,...

05-27-2021, 10:20 PM	#5
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,488	Re: Check those belts Just before we left on one of our long tours, I noticed the belt was like that. I was about to replace it but didn't - I left a new one on the floor in the back along with a spanner. It finally delaminated enough to cause a ruckus under the bonnet 2,500 miles later. When we arrived at the National Meet, there was a guy who had driven over 2,000 miles with no working water pump. The car ran a little warmer than usual but he stayed on 50 mph or more without damage to the car. If the belt breaks, it is possible to drive on except in stop/start traffic as has been said. The other thing you would lose is power output from the generator. If you don't use the starter or lights, you can drive a LONG way on what is in a good battery. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

05-28-2021, 11:21 AM	#6
HD Rider Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Glendive MT Posts: 155	Re: Check those belts Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) A friend once lost his belt on a trip from Stockton Ca to Reno NV for Hot August Nights. He used his wife's pantyhose to make it over the mountain into Reno. That was on a SBC powered pickup.

05-28-2021, 12:50 PM	#10
critter Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Melbourne AUS Posts: 10	Re: Check those belts Wouldn't have too much faith in the panty hose as a belt. Tried it and it didn't work for me,

05-28-2021, 06:56 PM	#11
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,951	Re: Check those belts I start looking at it a bit more closely in the early months of year 4. If I have a maintenance project going from there then I change it. They last a long time. Not a lot of pull on them, and I tend to drive my car every few weeks during the summer, and take it out, or warm it up 3 or 4 times during the off-season.

05-28-2021, 07:45 PM	#12
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,817	Re: Check those belts Model A’s like the Model T use a siphon cooling system. Pump is there to help, the siphon moves most of the coolant.

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