I inspect/check tension every oil change. Once glazed or beginning to crack
time to change it. Another indicator is if it keeps loosening indicating the
inner cords are failing.

Dennis

From: Richard Koerner [mailto:rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 6:36 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM; Dennis Haynes
Subject: Re: Alternator continuous-duty rating?-V-belt drive rating.

Any "rules of thumb" regarding belt life in a Vanagon?  I'm thinking
something like 40,000 miles assuming proper tension....but I guess there are
lots of variables to consider.  Belts are cheap; breakdowns on the side of
the highway are no fun....especially when it's the belt running the water
pump that breaks.

Rich
San Diego

--- On Sun, 9/23/12, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Alternator continuous-duty rating?-V-belt drive rating.
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Sunday, September 23, 2012, 2:07 PM

The "7" series is 7/16 or 11mm. The original belt is 10mm. I use the Gates
7430 for power steering and 7435 for the alternator-water pump regularly
with excellent results.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Beierl
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 3:45 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Alternator continuous-duty rating?-V-belt drive rating.

At 02:36 PM 9/23/2012, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>Presently running a 7430 Gates XL belt. Can I do better in terms of
>maximizing grippage and reducing slippage?

If it's a half-inch belt...our system is set up for 3/8, which is why the
auto-parts crossreferences tend to come out short.  Otherwise Gates make
excellent belts.

Yrs,
d