lt2duffer

Well, A small bit of history, I have always used Gates (serpentine)gatorback belts, Now I am questioning this. The gatorback kept me from being able to trun the waterpump pulley ( to see if it was slipping). Hence I thought there was not a tensioning problem. However, as a mechanical engineer, I deal with strength of materials on a frequent basis, once the yield or tensile strength of a material is exceeded, it breaks, over time during wear, this Y&T diminishes. My belt broke a few days ago, I grabbed my spare, put it on, and I be dang if the alternator started charging. good thing for my wifes checkbook, it was on the way to the parts store to buy the idler pulley and the belt tensioner assy.

Thanks all for your input!!