Alternator belt warning!!!!

[Madmountainman]

Just had my 30k service and requested that my alternator belt be changed. Good job too! It was shagged and definitely wouldn't have made 36k.

Whatever GS you ride, if you use a lot of accessories like lights and heated kit, your alternator belts going to get a pasting. Get it changed at 30k to ensure you don't break down!

 

[MikeO]

Yep - I've posted this before - I now consider the alternator belt to be a 24k service item...

Mike

 

[littleredrooster]

It was shagged and definitely wouldn't have made 36k.

...yup, mine too. Shredded to half its original width, and perished beyond belief. What the hell do they make them from? The Poly-Vee belt on the car has done 175,000 miles in 10 years under much more arduous conditions than the belt on the bike (it has to drive power steering and air-con and has a tortorous run) but does not suffer the same early death.

Crap.

 

[Gas'd Off]

Thanks for the warning Mad, Too late though! My belt exploded t`other day on way to work. No problem though. Charge light just comes on, battery had plenty of juice so I just rode it home again. It won`t cause any damage if it let`s go. Easy to fit the new ones too. Just thought I`d let any worry heads out there know that it`s not like when a cam belt goes

 

[KOTM]

Just changed mine at 36,000 + a bit. The one that came off looked in the same condition as the one about to go on, so I'll keep it as a spare in case the new one doesn't last as long as it's supposed to.

 

[guitarman]

............................................

Whatever GS you ride, if you use a lot of accessories like lights and heated kit, your alternator belts going to get a pasting. Get it changed at 30k to ensure you don't break down!

Er, please correct me as I'm sure to be wrong but.... doesn't the belt turn continually and although you might hammer the alternator and battery by using aux lights etc. surely it makes no difference to the belt??

Cheers

Dick

 

[yellowwolf]

Re: Re: Alternator belt warning!!!!

Er, please correct me as I'm sure to be wrong but.... doesn't the belt turn continually and although you might hammer the alternator and battery by using aux lights etc. surely it makes no difference to the belt??

yes you are right .......in that you're incorrect

 

[cookie]

ooh, can i be wrong too? more current draw on the alternator causes stronger magnetic fields, hence more drag. in theory.

unconvinced of the difference in practice.

 

[Steptoe]

try letting your car engine tick over, then turn on the lights, heated rear screen and fan - listen to the engine revs drop as it loads the alternator - drawing power acts like a brake on the alternator - so all the loaded with extra's GS's that have the lights/toys running all the time will knock their belts out very quickly --

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Think of the battery as a temporary storage device.
Its the alternator that provides all the power - the battery acts as a 'damper' in the system.
Voltage is regulated straight from the alternator, but po\wer output is 'on demand'.
more power output means more current draw means more magnetism means more field current means more force rquired to spin the alternator = more wear on the belt.

you could always buy a rally car alternator cut-out switch - disconnects the alternator on full throttle to allow about 5-10 BHP extra to not be swallowed up by the alternator and belt.

 

[Mick O'Malley]

Mine must be

super heavy duty bomb proof then.

I bought a new one when I did the 72k service but the old one still looked fine, so I chucked the replacement in a pannier. Went over 88k the other day so it's now done 52k.

Incorrect tensioning causing premature failure, perchance?

 

[Madmountainman]

Re: Mine must be

super heavy duty bomb proof then.

I bought a new one when I did the 72k service but the old one still looked fine, so I chucked the replacement in a pannier. Went over 88k the other day so it's now done 52k.

Incorrect tensioning causing premature failure, perchance? [/QUOTE


Not twisting the throttle more than 3mm usually stops alternator belt wear Mick!!!

 

[Mick O'Malley]

Not twisting the throttle more than 3mm usually stops alternator belt wear Mick!!!

Yeah, but at least my mummy lets me ride to Crewkerne in the winter.