<VV> Thrown Belt

[Steven J. Serenska]

Tony U. recently wrote:

> now if we could get more traffic 
> going, maybe it might remain worthy of 
> your efforts to keep it alive.

Here's my contribution to traffic.

I had work done recently on my 1965 Monza 110/4spd.  While the shop was 
doing other things, I asked them to replace the fan belt.

After i got it back, I drove the car for a few weeks with no issues.  
Then, during 70-80mph drive home, it threw the belt and I had to pull 
over.  I didn't have the right tools in the car, so I got a tow home.

I replaced the belt myself using that handy bent wrench that Clark's 
sells.  I had read on a forum somewhere that, when the belt is 
appropriately tensioned, you should just be able to turn the alternator 
with a single finger.  I bought a replacement belt and tightened it to 
that level and was on my way.

I took it on another high-speed drive this past weekend of about 60 
miles each way.  When I arrived at my destination, I could hear 
something squealing and opened the engine compartment and checked.  The 
fanbelt hadn't been thrown but it was loose and slipping.  After 
everything cooled down (about an hour), I checked and the tensioner was 
still firmly bolted into place exactly as I had left it.  My only 
conclusion was that the belt had somehow expanded although that didn't 
somehow seem right.  I loosened and moved the tensioner, tightened 
everything up, and drove home.

When I got home, there were no noises but I checked the belt anyway.  It 
was loose again.

I got a steel rod and was able to use it to pull the tensioner back.  
The belt was tighter than I had gotten it in the past but I could still 
turn the alternator.  When I backed into the garage, the car began 
making a whirring noise, not unlike the noise of the flying car in the 
Jetsons cartoon.  I read somewhere that the whirring could be coming 
from the alternator due to an overtightened belt.

I suppose my next task is to loosen it a bit but I'm afraid of taking 
another long, highway speed drive and having another issue.

What other things should I do or check out?  The belt that's on there 
now was purchased a few years ago from Clark's.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Steven J. Serenska
Bristol, RI