Bob,
That’s a good one.
Assuming that everything is mechanically
OK such as:
1. pulleys are aligned properly and in good condition (no nicks or
gouges in the belt-contacting surface of any pulley)
2. the proper belt of good quality and proper tension
3. no contamination on belt or pulleys
we can then look at the electrical side of
the system.
It is really a long shot, but let’s
assume that the alternator is putting-out too much power due to a
malfunctioning regulator which is applying full field current. (which should
not burn-up the belt, but you never know). To determine if this is the case,
you need to determine how much current the alternator is putting out.
- Is
there an ammeter? – if so it will most likely be pegged or at least
staying way to the right indicating lots of amps output
- If
no ammeter, how about a volt meter? Which will also be reading high –
above 14.5 volts
- If
there is neither type of meter, you need to measure the system voltage
with a multi-meter. If this is indeed the problem, you will see voltage
go up and past 14.5 volts as engine RPM increases.
Like I said earlier, this is really a long
shot because I think you would be experiencing other problems with your
electrical system if the voltage were getting real high.
Best of luck,
Jeff Luckey
From: Rotary motors in
aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Ed Anderson
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2009 14:31
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Off topic
sort of
Bob, you say the belt tension
“…should be right…”. Have you verified that it
is. A sort of rule of thumb (but no substitute for using a belt
tension measurer) is the belt should not be able to be depressed more than
½” at the mid point between the pulleys.
I presume it is driven by a
“V” belt? A quality belt is being used such as a
“Gates” – I have had some imported (and cheap) belts last
less that two flights in my aircraft, so I now use only Gates belts.
From: Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of btilley@mchsi.com
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2009 5:10
PM
To: Rotary
motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Off topic
sort of
I've got a problem! I have a motorhome that keeps burning up altenator
belts. They only last about 100 miles. I thought I had found the
problem/problems. First someone else had rebuilt the motor when my parent had
the motorhome. The fuel line had been run between the alt bracket and the belt,
and secured with a hose clamp. I thought the clamp was cutting the belt when it
was wobbling. Then when the Secondary batteries were installed it was asking at
times for maximum amperage. So I disconnected them. Also the spacing was not
correct on the pulley alignment. I got the alignment corrected. BUT, it
is still burning belts, the tension should be right and the alt has been
replace with one that rotates freely. Help!!!!
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