Quote:
Originally Posted by AROWHED
Like Jimmo said, I had the same thing happen back in September, the front-most rib of my belt separated. I figured it was stressed from 6 passes at Norwalk and that I had it just a little too tight. I will be changing out the VW alternator pulley now as well.
I took this pic just tonight...note that the idler is polished on half of it's contact face with the belt, and the belt is shiny in the same travel path area as well. Obviously uneven loading against the pulley face but what is the root cause? There is no belt squealing. I wonder if may be necessary to weld some reinforcement metal to the backside of the alternator bracket at the idler pulley mount, to prevent pulley deflection.
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Im noticing as I look at your photo, the front rib of the belt is riding on the raised unworn area of the idler and the rest of the belt is down in the worn area. Ive since swapped my idler with a new one and dont have the old one anymore to check but Id bet I had the same situation.
To clarify more to everyone else, Arowhed and I both started of with used idlers that already had a patch worn in. In hindsight, A new idler with a smooth surface should have been installed so that the belt can make even contact right from the start and wear together. I would think a new belt riding partially out of the groove had to contribute to the issue.
Maybe I jumped the gun and swapped the vw pulley for no reason??