<VV> Fan Belt Physics

[RoboMan91324 at aol.com]

Bill,
 
I believe that the only time a properly adjusted belt will  slip is under 
high acceleration/deceleration conditions on the motor RPM.   This happens 
during shifts.  The motor changes RPM very quickly at these  shift points.  
You want the fan to slip a little at these points or the fan  belt will be 
more likely to fly off.  Unless the belt is too loose, I don't  think the fan 
will freewheel other than the mentioned accel/decel  situation.  This is 
especially the case when everything has warmed up to  operating levels.  Once 
the belt and pulleys are warm/hot, the contact  friction increases.  Also, the 
engine will have grown due to thermal  expansion.
 
Just my opinion,
 
Doc
 
1960 Corvette, 1961 Rampside, 1962 Rampside, 1964 Spyder  coupe, 1965 
Greenbrier, 1966 Canadian Corsa turbo coupe, 1967 Nova SS, 1968  Camaro ragtop

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
In a message dated 7/1/2013 4:51:52 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
virtualvairs-request at corvair.org writes:

Message:  1
Date: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 15:16:18 -0700
From: Bill & Chris  Strickland <lechevrier at q.com>
Subject: Re: <VV> Fan Belt  Physics
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Message-ID:  <51D1FFB2.5060603 at q.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;  charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed


> Belt is too tight!   When the engine is COLD...using your HAND ONLY pull 
back on the idler/  tensioner pulley..   lock it and leave it..
>
>
>  You should be able to slip the alternator fan with a finger...

Well,  that is one opinion and it seems to work for lotsa folk, but it is 
not the  only opinion.  I don't like the idea that I could be loosing a lot 
of  cooling air in an already inefficient system by fan belt slippage due to 
the  belt being too loose.

Fan belts are now made a lot tougher than they  were in the sixties -- use 
good ($$$) belts!

Bill  Strickland