Okay, for years I have run accessory belts other than Continentals and put up with the Dayco screech (not slipping) while the car was running. Roughly six months ago, I switched to Conti belts, nice and quiet for the most part, and yes, pulley alignment is perfect with fresh bushings.

That being said, over the past six months, I have had to re-tension the alternator/water pump/crank belts three times, Is this normal with Conti belts? The interesting thing is that the Conti belts for the AC and PS are still properly tensioned after six months. I probably wouldn't have asked this question as it is quick and easy to snug up the alt belts, but doing it with recently broken ribs, leaning over the fender kinda told me to ask the question... dang ladders!


Thanks in advance!

jorrell
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92 245 291K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

Go to Good Year Gator Back belts. Their design groove cuts run quieter and a lot longer that way during their life span.

I try to get the belt to ride just a fraction above or at the top of the pulley. 12 and 13 MM widths as I remember. Maybe 11 MM on the alternator? Otherwise all the brands of belts tend to quench down deeper than is necessary for the friction required, there by getting pinched, making them wear out prematurely. Mechanical advantage is gained at the outside of the diameter. You don't want a belt to bottom out as one would say.

I'm not home right now or for at least a week or moreas it looks for now. I could set you up with the correct numbers that also get the lenghts easy to work on and off with. I like nice midway adjustments.


You may have to order them because parts houses make more on the spread with the other belts they push. The overall cost to us users is the same or better, if you figure in the durability since they are better IMHO.

On the alternator I machined and replaced those dumb lower bushings with some PVC material I had on hand. I bored the brackets to be straight and round dimensions. No more of that floppy as the go-sa stuff, any longer, ever again!

Converting the older cars to the newer screw adjustment is nice touch. I left the rubber under that because it becomes a mute issue when all other things are tightened up.

I don't get the reason why they think they had to go that rubber route at all. Except for all the crappy ill fitting bracket castings and formed flat stock they jumbled together to use the "other guys" accessories, even if it did get a label "Volvo".

A J.C. Higgins relative of Sears & Roebuck. Must have been an layed off automotive engineer of Checker Cab manufacturing, I imagine! Volvo has done this for sometime. I hope, he is happily retired!
The alternator and the infamous, leaning power steering pump! That pump pulley might as well be a speaker cone for belt chsnging time.

Belts are not as forgiving as one thinks they can be!

All things work better when they are squared up, even people!

Phil

You say the A/C and P/S belts stay properly adjusted, but the alternator and water pump belts need constant adjustment. And you've just changed the bushings, too? All three of them?

Here's my guess: The alternator (and P.S.) are held by a fairly robust frame of mounts, in addition to the bushings, so they're held pretty firmly.
On the other hand, because the alternator relies on a set of three bushings, that belt is more prone to loosening because it relies on a peculiar (compared to the A/C belt) application of one of those 3 bushings. Whereas the two on the long bolt of the alternator's "hinge" tend to be held in place by the bolt through them, that third bushing on the engine's front (the one under the water pump) really relies on resisting sideways (or "shear") forces despite literally just sitting in a socket.

You didn't say what kind of bushings your installed -- personally, I prefer poly bushings for this because of their exceptional rigidity (compared to rubber), and have used them for my accessory bushings ever since I discovered them many years ago.

But if that critical front bushing is too soft, or wasn't tightened down firmly (with the bolt) into its hole or socket, it could be flexing, and thus the belt will seem to loosen.

Just my guess.
Good luck.

Didn't have problems with my Conti belts; tightened them once a few hundred miles after installation, and that was that. I installed the poly bushings for the mounts, that might have done it.
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http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53563&id=1189132524&l=75a2564d60

Did you check and see if the crank pulley is going bad?

I know that the pulley can squeal when it goes bad. If not, then it's just an issue of old, or poor quality belts.

As a PM measure, at 100k and 200K I replaced my water pump, all of my hoses, and belts with Genuine Volvo parts. It costs more, but I have never had an issue with them.

I have big hands, and the two heater hoses are not fun to replace. I figure I will just spend a whole day working on the brick, and then feel free to head off anywhere I want.

Went from Dallas to Omaha, to New Orleans back to Dallas last year, and the only issue was that my cruise control didn't work, but I knew that before I left.
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If it needs to be maintained, repaired or replaced on a 1990 240, I've probably done it. '90 240DL, 291K looking forward to 300K badge (or sticker??). >>You haven't really worked on a car until you draw blood<< :-}

I recently had to tighten the same alternator belts on my 83. Not sure if the alternator is just working loose or if the belts are stretched. I kind of put mine on a bit loose in the past. This time I tighten them tight with a bar positioned against the head. Top of the alternator had a lip on top. I've got to install the later available adjustable thing.