On an inboard engine, the belt is used to drive the alternator and - depending on the model - the water pump. A belt is a wearing part that must be checked at least annually. If the belt is cracked or cracked, it must be replaced immediately. This can be checked by folding the belt upside down (once it has been removed).
Causes of wear and tear
- Cleanliness of the hold. If it works in water or oil, a belt wears out faster.
- The tension. Not tight enough the belt patina and ice.
- Surface condition of the pulleys. Pitted with rust, the pulleys wear out a belt.
The importance of proper adjustment
Too relaxed The belt slips and no longer drives the alternator correctly. A pernicious malfunction, because the engine alarms do not necessarily start.
Too tense Bearings or bearings work badly. It may deteriorate rapidly. It is much more expensive to change the bearings than to adjust the belt..
Wear control
To know the state of a belt it is enough to look how it penetrates in the groove of the pulley. The belt must remain on the surface of the pulley. The friction surfaces are located on the sides and not at the bottom of the groove (see diagram below).
Voltage control
A belt must not have a strong arrow. That is to say that the belt is pressed between 2 pulleys, this arrow must not exceed the thickness of the belt (between 5 and 10 mm).
Tighten a belt
To adjust the tension of a belt it is enough to:
- Loosen the alternator mounting bracket.
- Lever with an object (here a hammer handle) to spread the alternator
- Retighten the fixing screw
- Check the tension with the thumb. The tension of a new belt is checked after 10 minutes of motor operation.
Changing the belt
Nothing could be easier if you have the right model. Indeed, a belt is defined by :
- Its length
- Its depth
- Its width
To be sure to have the right model, it is better to use original parts.
