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I May Have A Problem
I may have a problem that goes back to when Prevost Nashville changed out my engine cradle in order to increase my towing capacity. No blame on them, just a change that was not intended and that I had not noticed.
I was changing the belts today and I could not remove the two belts that go from the main engine pulley to the OTA without cutting them off. I could not get them between the pulley and the part of the engine cradle the hitch attaches too.
I could not get a great picture but I tried from each side. The space is barely enough to get the tip of my finger in and the BX 97 is much thicker than the tip of my finger.
I have changed these belts twice before and they were very easy to remove and install. I have not changed them since the engine cradle install in February 2012.
The guys at Prevost had them off when they were changing the cradle as evidenced by this picture taken during that time.
That makes me think that I may be able to force the new belt through the gap even though I can not get the old one off. They must have been able to force them on.
Before I cut them I wanted to check here first. Am I just too chicken?
Davy
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11 Replies
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I’m a chicken in that I would never remove old belts by cutting because if I cannot install the new ones I am in deep trouble.
If they got the belts on, you should get them off.
FWIW, I would probably put a jack under the oil pan with a small section of 2X4 or 2X6 to spread the load and see if I could raise the engine slightly enough to get clearance for the belts.
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Our bus has the heavy hitch on it. I had a similiar problem last month while changing the OTR belts. I was able to put a litlte “English” them and get them past the crank pulley. They seem to come off and go back on easier if can turn the belt 90 degrees to the pulley while installing them.
Same on removal.
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Glad I am not the only chicken, Jon. I would not be dead in the water without those belts but I would not have OTR and I would have to depend on roof AC to keep me cool while going down the road and who wants that?
“Our bus has the heavy hitch on it. I had a similiar problem last month while changing the OTR belts. I was able to put a litlte “English” them and get them past the crank pulley. They seem to come off and go back on easier if can turn the belt 90 degrees to the pulley while installing them.
Same on removal.”
I tried a pretty good while but the fact that you have the upgrade and experienced the same thing and you were able to get them off and on is encouraging. Are your OTR belts the thicker BX belts? If mine were AX belts like the fan belts they would slide off and on easily.
Davy
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Ahh, I think I would find a better spot, maybe at the motor mounts instead of jacking on the pan, even though jacking gently.
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I will check the numbers tomorrow
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BX-97 are the ones I have Davy they are hard to get on the bottom pulley to but they will go on
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I went out and looked, mine are BX 97s
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Maybe the new mounts has changed the demensions, what about a belt one inch longer?
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No problem with the length. Nothing has changed there. The engine cradel is closer to the pulley now and there is not eough space for the belt to slide through.
John Cooper was right. The only way to get it off was to turn the belt 90 degrees to the pulley. Thanks for that tip.
Finally got the first one off. Thought the second would be a breeze but I like to never got it off. Could have cut it but by now it was the principle of the thing. After it came off the two new ones went on fairly easy compared to getting the old ones off.
This does mark a change with the new engine cradle. Before I could slide the old belts off and new ones one in about the time it took me to type this sentence.
Thanks for all your help.
Davy
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I am with Tom, No matter what size 2×4 the oil pan will not support even the weight of the motor without the motor mounts bolted to the frame.
Don’t ask how I know this because I will denny any wrong doing!
Kevin
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I am not suggesting anyone jack up the motor using the oil pan, especially the middle of the pan.
When I suggested that I was thinking of the shallow end, with the board and the center of the jack post cenetered under the vertical shallow end portion of the pan. I’d surmise just the minimum support is all that is required to raise the engine ever so slightly to creat the space needed to swap belts.
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