Dear Metallo,

Hope you're well and stay so. I've stood aside, in the hope that those wiser will shed light on the mystery of fast-shredding drive belts.

When was the crank pulley last inspected? If it is on the way out - if the rubber that bonds the core to the outer steel section, on which the belts ride, has failed - then the belts will not run true.

Take some white paint and draw a line from the crank pulley bolt towards the face of the pulley. Continue the line across the rubber section and to the front face of the pulley.

Drive and see if the single painted line separates into two segments, that don't align. If so, the crank pulley has given you the last measure of faithful service.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook