This is why I love this list. Dennis’ tip is in the best John Muir tradition: clear and simple, no special training required. Thanks y’all. 

On 8/6/18, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Beside contamination, debris lifting the belt, and old age the most common
> cause of failure I see is insufficient tension. If you don't have a tension
> gauge a simple test is use the alternator pulley to turn the engine with a
> wrench. With the transmission on neutral you should be able to turn the
> engine through the compression strokes without the belt slipping. If the
> belt slips with a hand wrench it will also slip under load and speed. It may
> not make any squealing noises but slip it will  and this will cause an early
> burn out along with wearing out that stamped steel alternator pulley.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 7, 2018, at 12:00 AM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> wrote:
> 
> 
> On 8/6/18, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
>> Beside contamination, debris lifting the belt, and old age the most common
>> cause of failure I see is insufficient tension. If you don't have a tension
>> gauge a simple test is use the alternator pulley to turn the engine with a
>> wrench. With the transmission on neutral you should be able to turn the
>> engine through the compression strokes without the belt slipping. If the
>> belt slips with a hand wrench it will also slip under load and speed. It may
>> not make any squealing noises but slip it will  and this will cause an early
>> burn out along with wearing out that stamped steel alternator pulley.