Hi Terry
I start to wonder if there isn't an underlying reason why belts go, as I
have used some really scabby belts from donor cars (poor student days) and
have never had one break or shred. Are your pulleys all in the same plane
are they all reasonably concentric (none of them are perfect) and are all
the centre lines (axis) parallel as this could cause a problem. I am told
that a good emergency belt that can be fitted at the lights without running
the red, is a stocking or one leg from a pair of tights (pantyhose?) loop it
round pull it tight tie it off and cut off the excess, though I have never
tried this.
Graham.
----- Original Message -----
From: Terry L. Thompson <tlt@digex.net>
To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 11, 2000 9:24 PM
Subject: Perfect Saturday
>
> I wake-up to a hazy cloudy day...a slow drizzle. Then I remember "I left
> the top down on the car last night". So I run out of the front door still
> pulling clothes on to get the top up before the rain really starts to come
> down. ( A wet seat never hurt anyone right?)
>
> My plans for the day- included going into the office but first to run to
> the local British parts place and pick-up a new set of points/condenser.
> (Pep Boys carrys a condenser, rotor, plug wires, dizzy cap for the
> spit..but no points!) So I head out on the 15 or so mile trip to the
> British car place after stopping by starbucks for some coffee.
>
> About 8 miles into the drive when I notice that my ignition light is red!
> The temperature needle appears to be moving like a tachometer on a formula
> one car...and immediately realize (due to a past experience) that I've
lost
> my fan belt. The only problem is, I'm at a stop light in the middle of
> traffic!
>
> After about 20 seconds or so the temp gauge has almost pegged the hot mark
> and steam beggins to pour out from under the hood. (I'm in the middle of
> Route 1 here.) Abandoning all dignity, I put the car into gear and run the
> red light (I'd rather pay a ticket than buy a new engine), to get to the
> side street and turn off the car.
>
> I prop open the hood to see a fountain of hot radiator fluid pouring out
of
> the over-flow bottle. The belt is in shreds hanging from the crank pulley
> literally by a thread.
>
> Luckily, I carry spare parts in the trunk...(50 to 100 fuses, several
> belts, a few quarts of oil...etc....It's a British car after all). And
> about 5 minutes worth of work and another 10 minutes of allowing the
> electric fan to do it's job...I was on the road to a nearby gas station
for
> some water.
>
> Exxon cashier "Water? Try the vending machines." ...$1 for 20oz. of
water?!
> Why you #@$&%! So, $2 in water and I'm on the road again.
>
> When I got to the British car place, I regailed the parts guy with my
> harrowing experience and told him "It's always best to carry a few spare
> parts....Too bad I can't fit a spare engine in the trunk!"
>
> End of story
>
> Terry L. Thompson
> '76 1500 almost Spitting Fire
> Maryland
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