No. Put the Gatorback belt back on to verify the condition still exists. Once is not a real test.

 

Thanks, I'm hoping that I'll not have to do anything else. I guess time and miles will tell. Oh, and I do understand your point you are trying to make about the belt. Perhaps because the Gatorback supposedly has more grip the slipping is not as apparent as the other less grippy belts. I'm amazed that some folks seem to think you are attacking Gatorback belts. And that some of us aren't so lucky to have a technician in our backyard (mine is 2 hours away). And, that sometimes (read numerous other threads) the pulley install doesn't go quite as planned. I hope you're able to get yours working right soon.

 

You call changing around a few belts testing?!?! I think that hardly qualifies as testing in anyones books.

You should always watch any new parts after you install them on your car for potential problems. There is nothing wrong with gatorback belts...I have one on my car. I understand what you mean about the belt "hiding" the problem, but as it was stated above it's not the belt it's whoever installed the pulley that's f'ed up.

My .02

 

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE REPLYING!

ok, last time I am defending my post.

My pulley is not aligned properly. The Gatorback is a great belt and when used on a properly aligned pulley will last a long time and work great. That being said.....

We are not all mechanics. When we have a pulley installed we trust the people who do it for us. I had a pulley installed with a new Gatorback belt and for 4k miles everything seemed fine until during a dyno day they noticed my belt was slipping at high RPMS. The tensioner was not showing any part of the hole meaning the belt was shot. The belt was changed to a napa and was squeaking. Towne Mini had my car for 2 days and tried a couple different belts themselves and could not get the squeak to go away. They stated the pulley is too far out and there isnt enough adjustment to keep the belts on track.

I drove my Mini home and replaced the belt with a Goodyear Gatorback 537. Squeaking is gone. Placed the Napa 535 on. Squeaking is back.

Conclusion.....

The Gatorback belt masks the pulley alignment issue. If someone were to have this belt upon initial pulley installation the installer may very well think that everything is ok. Until the day the misaligned pulley causes the belt to break or, like me, someone catches a slipping belt and suggests it be replaced and I find out why the belt went bad after only 4k miles. I loved the Gatorback Belt. However if I had the Napa Belt to begin with I feel in my honest opinion the problem of squeaking would have presented itself at the initial install time saving me time, money, and potential damage to my car.

If anyone disagrees with me that is fine. I have stated my thoughts, my reasoning, and what I have done to determine this. If I save one person from having a misaligned pulley issue then all this crap I got from the "knowitalls" was worth it.

-peace

 

No. You're still wrong and "WE" know it all.

 

I get the tip SPDinNY.

We're only talking belts here boys.

Jeremy

 

 

Amazing how receptive people are to a little suggestion isn't it?

I understand what you're talking about .

 

Amazing

 

Having any mods done far away can have draw backs, like the example you laid out - returning for service.

 

I feel like a broken record too.

here is my data - having used all 3 myself.

JCW belt.. no squeak
NAPA 535 belt.. no squeak
NEW Goodyear Gatorback.. no squeak

 

Guys, seriously, this isn't complicated.

The Gaterback belt has ribs, these ribs act like treads. Treads are good, in any other situation it inhibits belt slip. In this case, the fact that the belt isn't really slipping despite the misaligned pulley means that there is no AUDIBLE verification of said misaligned pulley.

Most of the other belts out there WILL slip, causing a squeal. Belt slip is bad, but in this case it would have warned him of the issue.

He posted an FYI...that's it. If it doesn't pertain to you or you don't care, move along...

 

CONGRATS! Your pulley is aligned properly!

 

which belt do I want for a 15%? JCW?

 

You know better than that, a stock belt works just FINE with the 15%. It just depends on what your definition of fine is...

 

what is bear

 

actually, I've never paid attention as the car doesn't have many miles on it. LDG charged me for a new size belt when they put the pulley on (insisted it needed it which clearly was a $$ grab).

 

Pretty sure the Gatorback Part # is 4060537 or 535. The 535 is supposedly tighter.

 

the shop has stock and JCW on the shelf. I'd prefer not to buy one unless I need it....car is getting an oil change next week and they'll take a look. the tech says the OEM ones are better quality than aftermarket

 

I always have a spare belt kicking around(in MINI during road trips too). Luckily, I've never snapped a belt yet!

Jeremy

 

JCW will fit better than stock, but I have no idea how it will perform over a properly sized belt.

 

i have a 535 size and it works great with a 15%, although I don't have a gatorback. Actually, I'm having a moment and I can't remember what brand I got installed. If I were you PGT I would try to check for myself or get the tech to check which size it is if it hasn't worn off yet. If you pulled 238 whp it would seem to me that your current belt is not slipping.

I also read somewere around here that Behe uses a 535 on 15% pulleys, so if his shop installed the one that's currently on, it's probably that size.

 

thanks. I don't think it's slipping at all, but we did a bunch of pulls in January and I did some auto-x sessions since. We're putting it on the dyno at Mach V next weekend....just making sure everything is tip-top so I show some Subaru's how to make mad tyte powah yo

 

How many holes can you see on the tensioner?

 

bout half way through the first