Do it again or leave it?

[TheOriginalTeddy]

I just put on a new serpentine belt while I was in there replacing an idler pully that I suspected was allowing me to pretend I had a supercharger for a bit. It didn't need a new belt, but with the km's, the mud and water it sees and I had to dig out that bracket the belt loops through anyways... figured why not.

I put her all together and started her up. There was a single chirp and a faint smell which I assume was the new belt. But it went as soon as it came and couldn't recreate it. Sat there and revved it a few times before taking it for a 10min test drive. Figured the belt was off a bit and the initial spin put it in it's place. Was completely thrilled till I popped the hood at home and there's a bit of fraying on the edge of the new belt. She won't be moving again till tomorrow before or after I make a decision since I'm done for the night and my only mission right now is choosing dinner. This is one of those brilliant examples from engineering where they thought the old tension bolt and being able to do this on the side of the road in minutes was too consumer friendly.

My question is how catastrophic/mundane do you all consider some fray on a belts edge? I know worse has lasted who knows how long on the trail rigs, but this is my daily. If I manage to feel around and see it's just set a little off on a pulley, could I get away with at least cranking the tensioner and try setting it again? Or is the general consensus a frayed belt's gotta go? If I absolutely have to do it again. At least, everything's freshly threaded and already fought with. *sigh*

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[jadmt]

I personally would not use a frayed belt.

 

[Terrymo]

It sounds like you know the right answer. Err on the side of caution and replace it.

 

[AcesandEights]

I dunno. Want to replace it now, or when it fails?

 

[kah.mun.rah]

I feel your pain brother:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...od-install-youve-ever-done.98640/post-2040471

 

[LukeDagny]

I was always told that when you release the tension on a serpentine belt, you replace it. Old wives tale yes or no?

I would replace the belt and carry the old one as an emergency spare.

 

[Old Dogger]

Replace it.

 

[TheOriginalTeddy]

I feel your pain brother:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...od-install-youve-ever-done.98640/post-2040471

To automotive engineers: We get it, but the jokes getting old.

 

[Reinen]

Manufacturing defects exist, installation errors as well. Replace the belt.

 

[TheOriginalTeddy]

I was always told that when you release the tension on a serpentine belt, you replace it. Old wives tale yes or no?

I would replace the belt and carry the old one as an emergency spare.

I don't know honestly.
I know many that keep the old one if nothings wrong with it. That kind of defeats the idea behind that worry. I've put used belts that pass inspection back on in a pinch. And they keep going no issues till next maintenance cycle. I mean looks like I'm putting back the one I just took off and i have no doubts doing that.
Only doing the swap a third time this week if they refund the belt. Otherwise, it'll be a bit.

 

[TheOriginalTeddy]

Guess I was looking for what I wanted to hear. Lol. But it was part a legit question. First belt that's only lasted about 5km.
I was at least going to wait till Monday to put the old one back being my next day off. But looks like I'm going to bed early and changing my alarm. Night guys...

 

[mwilk012]

Belts are much better than people give them credit for. It’s almost certainly perfectly fine.

 

[58Willys]

Is it frayed or just rubbed? It’s easy to get a belt slightly mis-aligned, and once started will sort of re-align itself. Unless it’s truly frayed/cut/damaged, run with it. Although replacing it wouldn’t hurt.

 

[bjm00se]

Guess I was looking for what I wanted to hear. Lol. But it was part a legit question. First belt that's only lasted about 5km.
I was at least going to wait till Monday to put the old one back being my next day off. But looks like I'm going to bed early and changing my alarm. Night guys...

It would have to be extreme fricken' fraying to get me to change it in the morning before work.

Otherwise, assuming the fraying was minor and I was just playing it safe and replacing it again, I'd wait until my day off to do it.

 

[TheOriginalTeddy]

It would have to be extreme fricken' fraying to get me to change it in the morning before work.

Otherwise, assuming the fraying was minor and I was just playing it safe and replacing it again, I'd wait until my day off to do it.

I would have said the same thing a few years ago. But my shifts are all over the place. Sometimes 4 in the morning feels like 4 in the afternoon to me. And my days off are random too. So... it's a bit different for me. I'm much more likely to do it before work than after. By the end of the "day" I'm completely lazy and not ashamed to admit it.

If I don't do it this way, it could very well be left alone for a good while. I'd love to have no to do list on my next day off. It's very possible I would have just done it before work if I chose another day anyways. It'll eventually get a new belt but the old belt looks perfectly fine so I'm running it now.

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