Bloody Fan belt

[wedgtable]

Every time I slam my foot down, whether it be for fun or to remind the tail-gating chav what he/she is driving, my fan belt flies off . I have tried tightening it and loosening it, both with the same consequences ( me trying to get off the road and out of sight before it boils over!).

I don't know that mine is the right belt but it fits in nicely and runs fine until I hoof it. Any one have any ideas??? Please cos it is really annoying!!

[combine]

You mean alternator belt ? No mechanical fan on mine , make sure its the right one/chuck it and get a new one as its only a few quid and it will likely grip much better.

[wedgtable]

Yeah sorry alternator belt. So just cos it fits doesn't mean that it will work?? Sounds like a dumb question really but I do like the old try it method.

[wedge girl]

Is it grooved?

[GreenV8S]

Either it's the wrong belt (too narrow and bottoming in the pulley, or too wide and not sitting in the pulley far enough) or the pulleys aren't lined up correctly. You'll need a straight edge to check the pulley alignment; you'll never do it just by eye.

[wedg1e]

My PAS belt is misaligned slightly, but it still stays on at 6500 rpm

Could be that the alternator stay bracket is bent, pulling the alternator out of line? It's quite a long bit of bent TVR metal, anything's possible...

[grahamw48]

wedg1e said:

Could be that the alternator stay bracket is bent, pulling the alternator out of line? It's quite a long bit of bent TVR metal, anything's possible...

That happened on my 280i (which also snapped belts).

[wedgtable]

wedg1e said:

My PAS belt is misaligned slightly, but it still stays on at 6500 rpm Could be that the alternator stay bracket is bent, pulling the alternator out of line? It's quite a long bit of bent TVR metal, anything's possible...

It is like a magical world with TVRs!! I think you are right though something must be out of alignment somewhere. What are the chance? eh?
Is there a TVR wizard somewhere that could cure the curse of the wandering fanny belt?

[FrenchTVR]

Mine used to be out of line and as Wedg1e said it was the alternator bracket pulling it out of line. It could also be the belt is the wrong size or profile or that the pulley is just plain shagged.

A combination of any of the above will lead to it flying off repeatedly.

[dickymint]

This used to happen when the SEAC was being developed. They overcame it by fitting Poly V pulleys and belt. Same thing fitted on Serpentine engines.

[STU3528]

Hi, my first post so hello everyone.
My 350i alternator / waterpump belt started flying off at high revs recently, after many years of faithful service. Just put an identical new one on in the end and it seems fine now.

[wedgtable]

Hey Stu, and welcome!

I have put an identical new one on too (from halfords I just measured it and went outside and tried it) It was fine for a while but I think, where it is running out of alignment it is weakening the belt. Hence the new one now comes off too.
So be prepared just in case.
Mike.

On the phone to TVR car parts to find new bits me thinks