Return-Path: Received: from fed1rmmtao09.cox.net ([68.230.241.30] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.3c2) with ESMTP id 760425 for flyrotary@lancaironline.net; Sat, 26 Feb 2005 10:53:06 -0500 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=68.230.241.30; envelope-from=ALVentures@cox.net Received: from BigAl ([68.7.14.39]) by fed1rmmtao09.cox.net (InterMail vM.6.01.04.00 201-2131-118-20041027) with ESMTP id <20050226155221.CENR19936.fed1rmmtao09.cox.net@BigAl> for ; Sat, 26 Feb 2005 10:52:21 -0500 From: "Al Gietzen" To: "'Rotary motors in aircraft'" Subject: RE: [FlyRotary] [FlyRotary]Belt rumnations; soliciting Opinions of racers please.... Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2005 07:52:26 -0800 Message-ID: <001001c51c1b$2b64d3d0$6400a8c0@BigAl> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0011_01C51BD8.1D4193D0" X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.6626 Importance: Normal In-Reply-To: X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0011_01C51BD8.1D4193D0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =20 A question about belts; what are the race guys doing? Do they see belt failures? Is Tracy using a belt? Ever failed? =20 I admit I feel more comfortable without belts, but we should be deciding this on facts not feelings. I don't have any facts. =20 I understand many automotive overhead cams use belts. A failure will = (if interference engine) bend valves and break pistons. These belts must be = a well known quantity. =20 Modern belt technology makes very reliable belts. I have four belts on = my van that have run 170,000 miles over 12 years; and still look fine. On = my XJS, where they run hot, over 60,000 now. I feel quite comfortable with belts on my airplane. =20 On my plane, I expect to change them out every couple of years, I made = sure I didn't run any wiring where a flailing belt might take it out. I have = dual belts running pump and alternator which does improve reliability, but I understand that one going may take out the other. Unless a belt is = somehow damaged by other means; I just don't see it breaking unexpectedly. =20 FWIW, Al ------=_NextPart_000_0011_01C51BD8.1D4193D0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

 

A question about belts; what are the race guys doing?  Do they see = belt

failures? Is Tracy using a belt?  Ever failed?

 

I admit I feel more comfortable without belts, but we should be = deciding

this on facts not feelings.  I don't have any facts.

 

I understand many automotive overhead cams use belts.  A failure will = (if

interference engine) bend valves and break pistons.  These belts must be = a

well known quantity.

 

Modern belt = technology makes very reliable belts.  I have four belts on my van that have = run 170,000 miles over 12 years; and still look fine.  On my XJS, where = they run hot, over 60,000 now.  I feel quite comfortable with belts on = my airplane.

 <= /font>

On my plane, = I expect to change them out every couple of years, I made sure I didn’t run = any wiring where a flailing belt might take it out. I have dual belts = running pump and alternator which does improve reliability, but I understand that one = going may take out the other.  Unless a belt is somehow damaged by other = means; I just don’t see it breaking unexpectedly.

 <= /font>

FWIW,

Al

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