chliwias (| & | [ f & | anane J TECH TIPS Belts and Belt Tension The alternator and battery are part of a complete system, and if one part is not working then other parts have to compensate, and in extreme causes result in catastophic failure. Often overlooked are the drive belt and the belt tension. Gates has kindly provided details regarding the newer belts. Since the 1990’s the OE manufacutres have changed the belt material away from neoprene to ethelyne propylene diene monomer… EDPM. The new EPDM belts do not crack and breakdown overtime as the neoprene ones did (see picture below). The grooves on the EPDM belts ede + 4 4 MNEOPRENE Courtesy of Gates Corporation simply wear away from the pulley. To the technician this poses a problem, how to determine when to replace the belt? Gates has a small simple tool that allows the belt to be checked off or on the vehicle (with the engine not running of course!). Contact your Gates Representative or visit http://www.gatesprograms.com/beltwear/beltwear. HOW TO USE THE BELT WEAR GAUGE EPOM belts, installed by original equipment manufacturers on new vehicles since the late 1990s, typically do not show obvious signs of wear, as with Neoprene belts. Cracks and chunk-outs rarely occur, so it is necessary to evaluate belt wear differently. Like tires, EPDM belts wear out gra steadily losing rubber material. Gates has developed this Be to help you assess wear on these newer EPDM bolts. It is 5 and will allow you to quickly gauge wear on a multi-ribbed serpent either on the engine or off To order additional Belt Wear Gauge: d ww G contact your Gates Representative or visit www. gatesbeltwe m REV: 20100106 Courtesy of Dixie Technical Department TSB_003.doc And Gates Corporation Dixie Tech Tips are intended for use by professional technicians, and are not for the general public. They are written to inform technicians of conditions that may exist or as a guide to aid in diagnosing and servicing a vehicle. All references to original equipment manufactures, vehicle manufactures and any other Trade Mark names are for the sole purpose of identifying the vehicle and or part that the Tech Tip applies to. This document is property of Dixie Electric Ltd. and is not to be copied or distributed with out written permission.