Drive belt has fallen off

[mrpbailey]

Backing the car out of my garage I heard a strange noise from the engine bay, lifted the rear clam and the drive belt just fell off right in front of me.
I tried putting it back on but its proving a bit difficult for 1 person, as it's really tight.

What i'm wondering is a) why has it come off???
b) is it best to change for a new one rather than put the old one back on? Doesnt appear to be damaged and is still a hell of a tight fit.

Thanks

Paul

[The devil]

For what they cost I would buy a new one, most motor factors do them, why it has come off cant help you, has the guide pulley lost its side shoulder at all, they are easier if you have an assistant and I think its a 3/8 drive to move the tension pulley
A big helping of bad language usually helps me get it on, i think they are a 1708/6PK belt but check in the wiki

[Hollowpockets]

I fitted a 6PK1693, slightly shorter but stops the squeal I was getting from time to time. Lots of bad language and a long metal bar gets it on without a hand, I'd advise getting help though.

[Gadgeroonie]

some Nobles have a tensioner - some don't

do you have a tensioner ?

[andygtt]

everyone is talking about the water pump drive belt ie the one near the fuel tank... can we check its this one you have an issue with rather than the alternator/air con one?

[daddysumo]

andygtt said:

everyone is talking about the water pump drive belt ie the one near the fuel tank... can we check its this one you have an issue with rather than the alternator/air con one?

Have not seen anyone mention water pump.... am I missing something ???

[Hollowpockets]

daddysumo said:

Have not seen anyone mention water pump.... am I missing something ???

I was talking about the alternator belt and think that's what he is reffering to aswell.

[andygtt]

sorry i read gadges one so shouldn't have said everyone lol

what i meant was there are 2 drive belts, need to be clear which one fell off?

If its the alternator one then sometimes the spacer is missing from the idler wheel and can mean it falls off... didnt adrians one shred a belt recently due to this?

[mrpbailey]

Yep I was referring to the belt that drives the alt/A/C etc.
I'll have another go at it tomorrow, and use a bigger bar this time!

[wessexrfc]

mrpbailey said:

Yep I was referring to the belt that drives the alt/A/C etc.
I'll have another go at it tomorrow, and use a bigger bar this time!

When I replaced mine I pushed the car (via the rear wheel) in gear to get it on, no bar needed!!!

[mrpbailey]

Only just sorted this after being ill last week.
As hard as I tried, could not get the belt back on, even with help of a friend and tensioner fully released, still needed a good 5 mm more!
So got a new 6pk1708 gates belt from local motor factors this morning, got home and had it on in about 2 minutes flat without any help. Did everything exactly the same as I did with the used belt, and it just slipped on easy in comparison.

Is it possible the old belt had shrunk with it having come off and car was sat out on the drive all week? Or just the new belt has a bit more 'give'?

[Hollowpockets]

I started with a 1705 then had a 1700 after the rebuild but it snapped and i now have a 1693 on it and finally no squeaking and all seems well. I guess there's the chance some are slightly different but I don't think they shrink. My one snapped after being sat on the shelf for 6 months and probably went brittle.