Belts Matter: A Guide to Ensuring Reliability in Your Vehicle

In the heavy-duty trucking industry, the importance of belts cannot be overstated. These crucial components operate under harsh conditions, facing extreme temperatures, environmental contaminants, high tensile loads, and constant flexing while the engine is in motion. The repercussions of a belt failure can leave you stranded, emphasizing the need for proactive maintenance.

To safeguard against unexpected breakdowns, it is essential to conduct a thorough inspection of belts every 60,000 miles, with replacement recommended every 90,000 miles. Aging and wear take their toll on these components, making routine evaluations imperative for sustained vehicle performance.

V-Belts are normally tensioned by means of the accessory’s adjustable/movable shafts, or an adjustable non-tensioned idler pulley.

A tensioning pulley is used only in exceptional cases. A Multi V-Belt, by contrast, usually operates in combination with tensioning pulleys and idlers. This is due to the belt’s length and because it wraps around several accessory drive components. Stretch Multi V-Belts do not use a tensioner. They generally must be installed using a special tool.

To assist you in navigating the potential pitfalls of belt maintenance, we've compiled a comprehensive list of the most common issues. For each problem, we've identified the root causes and provided practical solutions to keep your belts operating at peak efficiency:

Items are noted as follows: Cause (C) and Solution (S)

1. Uneven rib wear

Cause: Belt Pulleys not aligned
Solution: Align misaligned pulleys and idlers or change, if necessary. Change belt.

Cause: Severe belt vibrations
Solution: Check OAP, TVD and tensioner and change, if necessary. Change belt.

2. Edge formation on ribs (a) and abrasive material in ribs (b)

Cause: Belt pulleys not aligned
Solution: Check drive, align misaligned pulleys and idlers or change, if necessary. Change belt.

Cause: OAP or TVD defective
Solution: Check function of OAP, TVD and tensioner, change, if necessary. Change belt.

Cause: Belt was laterally offset when mounting on ribbed pulleys
Solution: Change belt, ensure belt is correctly seated.

3. Pronounced wear of ribs or flanks

Cause: Pulleys, idlers, or accessory units defective or tight
Solution: Change defective parts and belt

Cause: Belt pulleys not aligned
Solution: Align pulleys and idlers and change, if necessary. Change belt.

Cause: High level of slip
Solution: Check belt length, change belt, set correct tension.

Cause: Pulley profile worn
Solution: Change pulleys and belt

Cause: Severe belt vibrations
Solution: Check OAP, TVD and tensioner and change, if necessary. Change belt.

4. Damage to ribs

Cause: Foreign objects in belt drive
Solution: Check all components for damage, clean or change, if necessary. Change belt and remove foreign objects.

5. Rib material cracks and breaks off

Cause: Belt tension too low or too high
Solution: Change belt, set correct tension

Cause: Lifetime exceeded
Solution: Change belt

Cause: Belt gets too hot
Solution: Remedy cause (e.g. engine temperature too high, check fan function, tight ancillary components). Change belt.

6. Tension member torn out of belt back or flank

Cause: Alignment fault as a result of offset mounting of belt on ribbed pulleys
Solution: Change belt, ensure correct positioning of belt

Cause: Belt runs against solid edge at side
Solution: Check belt can run unhindered, align misaligned pulleys and idlers and change, if necessary. Change belt.

Cause: Pretension too high
Solution: Change belt, set correct tension

7. Belt failure caused by chemical effect of service materials

Cause: Bubbling of elastomer and decomposition of vulcanization
Solution: Repair leaks in engine or engine compartment (e.g. leaks of oil, fuel, coolant, etc.), clean pulleys, and change belt.

8. Damage to back

Cause: Reverse idler defective or tight
Solution: Change reverse idler and belt.

Cause: Idler outer ring damaged by foreign objects
Solution: Check drive for foreign objects, change idler, change belt.

Cause: Idler outer ring forms edge because of wear
Solution: Change idler and belt.

9. Detached ribs

Cause: Alignment fault as a result of offset mounting of belt on ribbed pulleys
Solution: Change belt and ensure correct positioning of belt

Cause: Belt pulleys not aligned
Solution: Align misaligned pulleys and idlers or change, if necessary. Change belt.

Cause: As a result of severe vibration belt jumps to offset position
Solution: Check function of OAP, TVD and tensioner, change if necessary. Change belt.

Cause: Foreign objects (small stones) in belt pulley
Solution: Remove foreign objects, change belt pulley, if necessary. Change belt.

10. Hardened, polished flanks

Cause: Incorrect pretension
Solution: Change belt and set correct tension.

Change: Incorrect set composition with v-belts
Solution: Always change a complete belt set.

Change: Incorrect flank angle with v-belts
Solution: Change belt and ensure that the correct belt is used.

Road Choice belts are reliable and affordable replacement solutions for all makes and models of heavy-duty trucks. To avoid unscheduled downtime, make an appointment for a thorough belt inspection with the service experts at your nearest Road Choice retailer. In the meantime, equip yourself with our comprehensive maintenance troubleshooting guide for quick on-the-go reference, ensuring you stay well-prepared and informed.