The Ford Barn

Nick in Fayetteville · 03-26-2015, 06:40 PM

I really could use some help here. I have a fan belt on my flathead V8 that squeels when I start the car and will some time continue to squeel for several miles. Eventually, it stops squeeling. Facts: The fan belt is new. It matches the grooves in the pully. I have tighten it. Loosen it. Put soap on it. Cleaned it with brake parts cleaner. I have used belt dressing. Nothing is working. Any ideas....Thanks...Nick

Terranova · 03-26-2015, 06:57 PM

Maybe it's not the belt but the bearings in whatever the belt is driving?

Peterooster · 03-26-2015, 07:09 PM

Sometimes turning the belt around will fix that squeal. Pete

flatheadfan · 03-26-2015, 07:15 PM

By any chance is this a "B" belt?

Tom

Barlea · 03-26-2015, 07:31 PM

The generator is putting extra load on the belt until the battery recovers from starting, so my bet is a very worn generator pulley. A new belt can't get a good grip on a pulley with the sides worn concave. ..B.

joe 1950 · 03-26-2015, 07:41 PM

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I agree with barlea you have a shinny slippery pulley, or one of your pulleys is out of alignment with the others, take a small spoon full of ajax or comet cleanser or any abrasive cleaner and put it on the pulleys , then start up and see what happens, ben in this trade a long time and never have I seen belt dressing work

robert hayward · 03-26-2015, 07:53 PM

To check if its the belt, put a couple of dobs of honey on the side ... squeel will stop.

Nick in Fayetteville · 03-26-2015, 07:54 PM

If it were the bearing, wouldn't it continue to squeel and never stop?????

Nick in Fayetteville · 03-26-2015, 07:56 PM

Sorry, running a brand new alternator. New pully and the works..Not a worn pully.....

Nick in Fayetteville · 03-26-2015, 07:59 PM

Hey Tom..What exactly is a "B" belt?

Seth Swoboda · 03-26-2015, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick in Fayetteville

Hey Tom..What exactly is a "B" belt?

There are two sizes of V-Belts. An "A" belt is the smaller size and the "B" belt is larger.

Binx · 03-26-2015, 09:01 PM

I agree with joe 1950. You may have a misaligned pulley. Buy a length of straight round wood dowel that fits in the v-groove between each pulley and see how they line up with each other.

Lonnie

Craig CT · 03-26-2015, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick in Fayetteville

Sorry, running a brand new alternator. New pully and the works..Not a worn pully.....

Hi Nick; I would look for the origin. See if it is coming from one particular pulley and go from there. Good luck, Craig.

Tony, NY · 03-26-2015, 09:14 PM

Take the belt back and get another one. Cheap fix.

ford38v8 · 03-26-2015, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick in Fayetteville

Sorry, running a brand new alternator. New pully and the works..Not a worn pully.....

Alternators generally have smaller diameter pulleys, harder for a belt to get traction.

47Merc · 03-26-2015, 10:39 PM

Has the alternator got a B style pulley on it?

flatheadfan · 03-27-2015, 01:34 AM

This question frequently comes up. The "B" belt is designed for electric motor applications NOT automotive as it frequently is used. The difference between a "B" belt and a Ford belt is the slope angle of the belt's size. As a result, the "B" belt drops down into the pulley deeper but due to the sharp angle of the belt only the top 3/16" of the belt is in actual contact with the Ford pulley. So, it has a tendency to slip unless it is over-tightened which can cause other problems. With the Ford belt the entire sides of the belt are in contact with the pulley groove providing less or minimal slippage with only moderate tightening. The pictures should help.

Tom

Henry Hopper · 03-27-2015, 02:37 AM

So you've converted your Flathead-powered rod over to 12 volts and bolted a GM alternator in place. Now it's time to install the belt, but your engine pulley is 5/8" and the alternator is 1/2"!

Don’t worry, Speedway has you covered. This alternator pulley allows the use of a 5/8" wide Flathead-style belt on GM externally regulated, SI and one-wire alternators.

Copied and pasted from Speedways ad....?Maybe this could be your problem?

Tony, NY · 03-27-2015, 06:59 AM

Since you're using a alternator with a smaller pulley and a wide belt, a cog belt would help because it bends better around a small pulley.

funrunr · 03-27-2015, 07:02 AM

Whether it is pulley or not, I agree with Joe 1950, belt dressing is a short lived band-aid and will eventually coat the pulley. Best to clean that crap off.

03-26-2015, 06:40 PM	#1
Nick in Fayetteville Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 341	Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll I really could use some help here. I have a fan belt on my flathead V8 that squeels when I start the car and will some time continue to squeel for several miles. Eventually, it stops squeeling. Facts: The fan belt is new. It matches the grooves in the pully. I have tighten it. Loosen it. Put soap on it. Cleaned it with brake parts cleaner. I have used belt dressing. Nothing is working. Any ideas....Thanks...Nick

03-26-2015, 06:57 PM	#2
Terranova Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Grove City, Oh Posts: 255	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll Maybe it's not the belt but the bearings in whatever the belt is driving?

03-26-2015, 07:09 PM	#3
Peterooster Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Brunswick NJ Posts: 74	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll Sometimes turning the belt around will fix that squeal. Pete

03-26-2015, 07:15 PM	#4
flatheadfan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Michigan Posts: 1,218	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll By any chance is this a "B" belt? Tom

03-26-2015, 07:31 PM	#5
Barlea Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Central Alberta Posts: 441	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll The generator is putting extra load on the belt until the battery recovers from starting, so my bet is a very worn generator pulley. A new belt can't get a good grip on a pulley with the sides worn concave. ..B.

03-26-2015, 07:41 PM	#6
joe 1950 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Green Bay Wi Posts: 400	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I agree with barlea you have a shinny slippery pulley, or one of your pulleys is out of alignment with the others, take a small spoon full of ajax or comet cleanser or any abrasive cleaner and put it on the pulleys , then start up and see what happens, ben in this trade a long time and never have I seen belt dressing work

03-26-2015, 07:53 PM	#7
robert hayward Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 20	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll To check if its the belt, put a couple of dobs of honey on the side ... squeel will stop.

03-26-2015, 07:54 PM	#8
Nick in Fayetteville Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 341	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll If it were the bearing, wouldn't it continue to squeel and never stop?????

03-26-2015, 07:56 PM	#9
Nick in Fayetteville Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 341	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll Sorry, running a brand new alternator. New pully and the works..Not a worn pully.....

03-26-2015, 07:59 PM	#10
Nick in Fayetteville Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 341	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll Hey Tom..What exactly is a "B" belt?

03-26-2015, 09:01 PM	#12
Binx Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Gloucester VA Posts: 1,042	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll I agree with joe 1950. You may have a misaligned pulley. Buy a length of straight round wood dowel that fits in the v-groove between each pulley and see how they line up with each other. Lonnie

03-26-2015, 09:14 PM	#14
Tony, NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Capital of Corruption , NY Posts: 811	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll Take the belt back and get another one. Cheap fix.

03-26-2015, 10:39 PM	#16
47Merc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 362	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll Has the alternator got a B style pulley on it?

03-27-2015, 02:37 AM	#18
Henry Hopper Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: N.W.England Posts: 439	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll So you've converted your Flathead-powered rod over to 12 volts and bolted a GM alternator in place. Now it's time to install the belt, but your engine pulley is 5/8" and the alternator is 1/2"! Don’t worry, Speedway has you covered. This alternator pulley allows the use of a 5/8" wide Flathead-style belt on GM externally regulated, SI and one-wire alternators. Copied and pasted from Speedways ad....?Maybe this could be your problem?

03-27-2015, 06:59 AM	#19
Tony, NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Capital of Corruption , NY Posts: 811	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll Since you're using a alternator with a smaller pulley and a wide belt, a cog belt would help because it bends better around a small pulley.

03-27-2015, 07:02 AM	#20
funrunr Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Belleville,MI Posts: 1,427	Re: Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll Whether it is pulley or not, I agree with Joe 1950, belt dressing is a short lived band-aid and will eventually coat the pulley. Best to clean that crap off. __________________ Thank God this is only a hobby!