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Do you keep your belts tight when parked?
I keep my Aux air compressor on all the time, it runs for about a minute every few days. Therefore, my belts are always tight, and I never have to worry about cranking up with them loose.
Who keeps their belts tight all the time and who doesn’t?
The reason I’m asking is, I noticed that my cooling fan belts (3) AX73 will stretch over time and causes the fan/gearbox to touch the stop. So,I replace the belts and then it has normal clearance again. They seem to last about 7-8 months before stretching.
The other belts have no stop to worry about, OTR air and the alternator belt.
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40 Replies
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Oh boy, here we go. The old man just fell out of his Corvette and Truk is dancing on his roof.
Jerry,
We have beat the crap out of this when discussing air systems. Instead of going into all that I will say mine holds for months so no need to worry but I always start mine inflated.
Later
bv
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I share Jerry and Bernie’s take on bellows belts, mine stay pumped up forever with no aux air. Al talked me into changing the check valve at the regulator, I knew I was leak free on the lines and mini airbags and sure enough, I could blow air through the check valve, it was shot. Now 5 months later, never see loose belts again and I shut off the aux compressor when at home.
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OK , mainly what got me started on this again is the streched belts. Keep an eye on them!
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With the replacement of the check valve on regulator in your engine room you can have tight belts forever. Only requirement is the mini air bags and lines must be leak free.
2 check valves custom made with premium service parts, while I wintered in FL….Now Truk also enjoys tight forever. Both original check valves were useless as internal parts were destroyed from moister.
If your generator mini air bags leak down take a look at another check valve in Prevost AUX air system.
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And another…one of two (2) in generator bay. Other is at outbound air on Thomas compressor on Marathon AUX system.
This one keeps your reserve tank full. This one also leaked due to moister in Marathon AUX system.
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I have only started my coaches with loose belts for 27 years so I don’t have an opinion on if they need to be tight.
When Prevost starts selling kits so seated coaches without aux compressors can start with tight belts I might consider tightening them before starting, but in the meantime the worry warts on here can wring their hands and fret because I risk a meltdown because of starting with loose belts.
One thing I noticed is none of the tight belt advocates have OTR. Maybe their automotive A/C compressors require tight belts.
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I’m not sure if I’m one of the advocates you talk about, but I do have OTR.
Sounds like it’s a personal preference on leaving the belts aired up while parked an extended amount of time.
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Jerry,
27 years, OTR, 3 buses, flip phone (not on) loose belts, Lawrence Welk, etc., etc.
I’m in your corner.:)
My stats are 12 years, 6 buses, IPhone (never off), Fleedwood Mac, Rolling Stones and thrown belts on 1 occasion due to no aux pressure, never to be repeated.
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Harry…come on. Chime in.
Tom…Peter Green era or Lindsey Buckingham. Bare Trees or Rumours?
And seriously, I do listen to the Lennon Sisters on the road. Got to love Napster.
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My belts are always tight … once I replaced the mini-airbags (leaked) and check-valve near the belt tensioner valve, my belts stay tight for a very long time. Have not noticed any of my belts rubbing anything at anytime.
Also, my Aux Compressor has nothing to do with my belts, unless I open my Marathon aux compressor valve. My belts are supplied with air from my primary compressor via the Aux Tank. Someome correct me on this if I’m wrong …
Jeff and Lindsay
91 Marathon XL -
Thanks Tom!
I’m only on my 3rd H in the last 6 years….but the one I have now IS my last one! Very satisfied.
I’m an ole trucker, iphone, OTR, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Led Zepplin, Allman Bros., Texas Blues……
Sorry I stirred this up again 🙂
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Well, I hate getting in between Tom and Jon but I wish I had listened to Tom after a little run this morning.
Lost my fan belt about 10 miles into a run.
Check engine came on starting to find a spot to pull off before I fully did stop came on and right as I got off full shutdown
whole thing from first warning to full shut down less than 2 minutes. Lucky I had a spare and was able to swap it out
Tom can you walk me thru how you air up before starting?
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How do you know it had anything to do with airing up prior to engine start?
If your coach accessory air was pressurtized before you were ready to start the engine by the time you waited for the warning lights to extinguish the belts would already have been tight because accessory air wouild have inflated the tensioning bellows.
But if you had no pressure the belts would have tightened as pressure built.
On a Marathon you have to keep the air path open between the chassis accessory air tank and the Marathon installed auxiliary air compressor and its tank. Then just turning on the key and waiting a few seconds before engaging the starter insures the belts are tightened.
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I always keep mine aired up. Only release the pressure to check function or change belts, or do other maintenance. As part of my walk around before departure, with the engine running, I always open the right rear engine bay and visually confirm that the belts are tight and operational. Maybe not full proof but has worked so far.
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Jon,
I don’t know anything for sure but. I did a quick pretrip yesterday to check eveyrthing and belts were loose. Bus hadn’t moved in about a month or more and it was 0 air everywhere but marathon house air. I read all the recent posts on the topic and told myself I should check that out next time. I was stupid, in a hurry and didn’t as the coach was airing up I thought I smelled something odd but figured it was just because the engine had sat for a while. Stupid again so off I went to test pulling a new 24′ trailer for my Side by Side.
The belt was cut in half like it jumped on a pully and worked to a point as the bellows filled. I waited a couple of minutes before going to high idle but my guess not long enough.
Learned a good lesson today. Always do a visual check on the engine running before leaving.
And never had the stop engine come on so for those that haven’t experienced it it all happens fast If on a highway or interstate it could have been bad. really bad.
Bill
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Bill,
Jon is correct on the Marathon air, just turn the yellow knob allowing Marathon aux air to charge the Prevost aux air tank, it only takes about 60 psi and your belts will be tight.
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