Marine vs Auto belts

[newcdnboater]

Hi guys, I know marine belts are recommended over auto belts due to lower risk of spark but it seems like highway robbery that the merc belt is $35 and the same belt at napa is $5. I know, burning the boat for the sake of 30 bucks isn't worth it but just wondering if anyone really thinks there is any difference in the compounds in the two....they look and feel identical.
1987 merc 3.0 Alpha 1.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

there's no difference in belts. A Gates belt is a gates belt. I'm sure the belt is less expensive at napa... but 5 bucks??

 

[ron7000]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

I know marine belts are recommended over auto belts due to lower risk of spark

you know....... how do you know?

FWIW I spent two hours with the Chief Technical Officer of Navistar yesterday.

wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Power_Stroke_engine
"So many 6.0 L Power Stroke engines were proven to be unreliable and may have cost Ford hundreds of millions of dollars in warranty repairs and leading to a recall and repurchase of at least 500 trucks",
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070305/FREE/70304002/1528/rss01&rssfeed=rss01

and let's not forget the cavitation issue of the 7.3L which neither ford nor navistor never officially recognized, so to claim credibility based on contact with a Navistar cheif engineer is like claiming you know how to run a business because you know the CEO of GM or insurance execs on wall street

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

A belt...is a belt...is a belt!

I've yet to see a belt 'spark'...in over 5 decades.

Shop for price. Most decent auto stores can cross reference an OEM belt number, to a matching automotive belt.

If the old belt is still useable...carry it as your spare!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

After I bought a new Mercruiser belt, I took it to the auto parts store and had them match it up. I bought a set of auto belts for 1/4 of the MerCruiser cost and kept them as spares. I noted the gates number and always bought that belt afterward. As the motor pullys get rusted, they will tear up the belts.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

A belt...is a belt...is a belt!

Ayuh,...

 

[180shabah]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

I've seen belts smoke, but I 've never seen rubber spark.

 

[mark1905]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

After I bought a new Mercruiser belt, I took it to the auto parts store and had them match it up. I bought a set of auto belts for 1/4 of the MerCruiser cost and kept them as spares. I noted the gates number and always bought that belt afterward. As the motor pullys get rusted, they will tear up the belts.

Sand and paint pulleys. No more shredded belts!

 

[10 FOOT INVADER]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

Never had a problem with auto or marine belts sparking. But i have had a few belts in my rc stuff build up and discharge. The static spark of the belt will short out the recievers. Rc cars and rc helis seem to suffer the most. Seems like the metal of the pully on the marine belt would take the discharge to ground.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

Mark, I ended up replacing the waterpump pulley. It was too rusted to be saved. When I sanded the rust off, there was foil thin metal left in some parts.

I did save the main pulley though.

 

[mark1905]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

Mark, I ended up replacing the waterpump pulley. It was too rusted to be saved. When I sanded the rust off, there was foil thin metal left in some parts.

I did save the main pulley though.

WOW that's some serious pulley rust! If the main pulley is that rusted, I'm wondering if it may be detrimentally out of balance and putting undue stress on your drive train. You may want to replace that and all the pulleys..

 

[cribber]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

I lost the serpentine belt on my Volvo 3.0 one Saturday around Christmas because the alternator bolt loosened and chewed it to shreds. NAPA was the only place open that weekend and we found a correctly sized Gates Lifetime Warranty belt that fit perfectly and got us back under way. Made the dealer replace torn up belt under warranty and that puppy went straight into the spares bag for my boat. 50 hours on the motor later and we're still purring along with the beefier Gates belt.

 

[newcdnboater]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

Thanks 4 the input. I don't really "know" that the belt will cause a spark...that's what the merc dealer told me. I'm still learning the hard way! They know how to rip off the newbies at the dealer! Thanks again

 

[JustJason]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

a dealer really told you that? That's beyond..... dumb.

 

[mkast]

Re: Marine vs Auto belts

From a Gates Belt website:

Save space, weight and dollars with Gates Super HC and Super HC Molded Notch v belts. These belts transmit more horsepower on drives requiring greater speeds, higher-speed ratios or smaller-sheave diameters. Super HC belts feature flex-bonded cords and flex-weave covers for enhanced load-carrying capacity. Super HC Molded Notch belts have specially designed notches and lateral rigidity to support the cord with precision-machined sidewalls for better length control, product uniformity and consistency. Both belts resist the effects of oil, heat, ozone, sunlight, weather and aging. They meet RMA standards for static conductivity and are available in both single strand and PowerBand? ?joined? belt configurations.

Read the last sentence,
Just one example of belt sparking.

Damaged belt or pulleys another.