I’ve been searching, but I can’t find a number for the diameter of the stock SC Pulley. All the searches I do turn up results about 15% or 17% or 19% smaller. 15% smaller than what??

So here’s the deal, I just recently purchased an ’05 MCS with 72,000 miles. I am thinking that the SC belt should be changed. I believe it should have been changed at 60,000 –but it doesn’t look very new to me, and I do not have much for service history of the vehicle.

Previous owner put an ALTA CAI on it, and a Screamin’ Deamon Coil Pack. I’m not sure if he changed the pulley or not. Very difficult to take photos in there but I tried.

The pulley doesn’t look like anything special,.. I mean it’s not a machined billet aluminum or anything that I can tell. It looks like a basic typical common steel painted black by manufacturer. I tried to reach in to measure the outside diameter of the SC pulley. I get a little over 65mm, but with it’s location as I tried, I couldn’t tell if the inside of the caliper was catching on the edge of the pulley on the far side, or if it was up on top of the belt… so could be error a little.

What do you think, is it original, or did the previous owner put a smaller pulley on it?

Also, what are your thoughts about this belt? I wonder if this cross-hatch diamond pattern as observed on the alternator pulley is an indication of wear. Was the factory belt smooth, and this is showing the nylon cords coming through now?

Thanks for any opinions or advice.

-AlexQS

 

cant tell from the pic....
But the OEM is a hot pressed steel pulley. Factory belt DOES have a bit of texture..it is a cont-tech belt, 1388 MM for the stock if I recall right.
Most every aftermarket pulley is CNC machined, with bolt holes...colors vary, but better ones tend to be stainless steel.
Determining from measurement is hard cause the guide groves on the side of the pulley stick up....


http://www.waymotorworks.com/15-supe...ulley-wmw.html

 

Yes, that is stock. If you were going to install a reduced size, then go with Cravenspeed or Alta.

 

Yes that pulley in your pic is the bone stock non JCW supercharger pulley.

The 15% 16% 17% sizes of our aftermarket pulley represent the % smaller than your stock pulley, and in tern spins the supercharger that % faster.

The stock belts NEVER had a cross hatch pattern on them, I tend to avoid those cross hatch pattern belts as they tend to wear and crack sooner.

If you want a reduced pulley check out our WMW pulley package, has everything you need and quality parts.

 

Tab32 is right, that is stock. The percentage is the percentage smaller over stock, so a 15% is 15% smaller than stock etc...

 

Okay, so I found out that without charge I can get someone at MINI of Portland to listen to the clutch chatter that I hear when it idles in neutral. It always goes away when I disengage the clutch. When I release the peddal very very slowly with it in neutral, the sound usually is still not audible until I blip the throttle. I am assuming that this is the normal sound of the dual-mass-flywheel, but I haven't heard another to compare it to.
Maybe I can get them to look at the belt too, and give a yes / no as to if it needs to be replaced.

Thanks for the confirm that I have the stock pulley. It looked stock, but man, this thing performs well!

So if the belt needs to be changed, I'm inclined to get the big L shaped fulcrum tool and do it myself. I guess I'll need the stock size belt.

What about the tensioner. Do you automatically replace it every time you do the belt? Every other time? Or do you just inspect it for wear, and then decide?

Thanks again for replies. This is my favorite forum!!

 

CONFUSED NOW

Anyone else have a comment on weather or not the factory belt had the cross-hatch marks?

 

Zippy was refering to the texture on the back and he is correct.

I was refering to cross hatch patter on the belt grooves themselves.

That belt on your car looks to be the original conti belt.

 

LISTEN to Way....

 

Good News: I visited MINI of Portland, they did a quick 10 minute visual inspection of top side of engine for free. That was nice of them.

-I made the trip mostly, because of the clutch chatter noise. I suspected that it was the dual-mass flywheel I had read about, but I wanted someone with experience to listen and confirm. This being my first MINI I wouldn't know if I had been hearing the throw-out-berring getting ready to die. -So they said the noise is all normal and fine. The piece of mind is priceless ot me.

Also they looked at my belt. It is the origional, showing some signs of wear, but no cracks on the grooved side. I plan to do something about it in the next few weeks or month or so. I don't think it's so urgent that I have to do it tomorrow.

I like the WMW site, and had looked at it extensively.

Here's a question though. If I add a 15% pulley to a SC that already has 72000 miles on it, won't I be shortening it's life significantly? Please consider that this is a daily driver that will see 2 hours highway commuting everyday amounting to about 21,000 or more miles a year.

The reason I ask is because I hear that when I need to replace the Super Charger, (which I guess will be in the next year and a half with the rate of miles I put on???) -then would the CORE SC have no value as a trade in after I take the stock pulley off?

With those kind of highway miles, can I realize a little increase in fuel efficiency by adding a pulley IF I keep my foot out of it?

 

The Core Value of the SC is not affected by not having a pulley....heck most rebuilt units can be ordered with/without a pulley (from vendors anyway, not sure of MINI)
I don't think anybody has ever been able to determine WHEN a SC WILL fail based upon miles, age or if a pulley is used...simply to many variables.
Some have failed, bone stock at 45,000 miles, so have gone 150,000+ with a pulley....so just run it till either it fails, or YOU decide it is time based upon performance (or as a pre-emptive strike). Heck, Several YEARS ago I picked up a SC on e-bay that came off a low mile wreck....(now that even the newest gen1 car is much older, not as many of these nearly new wrecks around now)...but I looked at it this way.....a core is worth ABOUT $500 for a SC, got the one I bought for about $650 if I remember right...so very little risk...and it is on the shelf ready to go, no downtime....heck THEN i can sell the broken one to somebody who needs a core..... or maybe fix it and sell it....
As to the gain in MPG from a pulley....IF you are careful you MIGHT see a SLIGHT gain...but driving habits and speed is MUCH more important...as is TIRE selection....
For some high mile commuting I am running a 185 width tire on a 15' OEM rim (gives me almost the same exact rpm's per mile as the oem 16' size of 195/55r16)...and it looks like I am getting about 32 mpg from the last 2 tanks....last summer has been getting about 28 on my 16's with UHP tires that are 205's.....still keeping them for fun, but the MPG gain, and MUCH longer tire life of a Grand-touring tire (not even a Low-rolling resistance one) and cheaper price is making it a good looking trade off for now....heck most UHP tires are only good for 20,000 miles...
Remember, Lighter rims/tires help fuel MPG, as does a narrower tire...and you would be amazed at the way a mini feels with a nice light set of rims compared to the 17' S-lites which are very common....
The 16' X-lites aka r-84's are very light for 16's, as are the 15' 5 hole rims from the early gen1 coopers. All this is a moot point if you have a BBK or JCW brakes...then you are stuck with 17's...ONE 16 rim (I think ) fits...