For MacGyver fans-interesting problem?

[boncrshr]

Ok..here goes. I have been really working the Hustler hard during hunting season...pulling trailers loaded with gear and people, and pulling huge logs for firewood. Last weekend I shredded a belt, fortunately I always carry a spare.

Problem is that I am going this weekend and the spare slips some and has been smoked before...the soonest I can get a replacement is Dec 5. Snowmobile belts are hard to come by here in Texas What would ya'll do in a pinch?? I was thinking maybe a bicycle innertube just to get the Hustler back to the trailer???

[jerseybigfoot]

shredding a belt can be caused by different reasons.
1. Age
2. Alignment.
3. sheave surface (pitted from corrosion)
4. Belt tension, too much drive clutch force to up shift and to much driven clutch force to prevent the belt from up shifting.
5. Belt section and width incorrect.

[boncrshr]

Hey Jersey,

This one was too tight for sure....but what would your disaster plan be this weekend as I will not have any buddies with 4-wheelers to back me up??

[Roger S]

Have Dave overnight one off his two machines?

[jerseybigfoot]

What size belt do you need??
Only had one belt shred, and that was on my racer and that was at 50mph. All I had left was a ball of string and very small rubber bits.

I don't Know of a substitute other than a belt that was either too long or too short.

[Beeman]

oh oh... redneck fixes....!!

I'm not sure a bike inner tube would work... maybe twisted and doubled up.

Off the wall, you could bring a small bike tire (on spokes, fully inflated) that would fit between the primary and secondary clutch, than somehow put pressure down to the frame with string or a rope attached to the tires axle (on both sides with some sort of vertical support). Note that backwards would be forwards on the secondary side.

you could bring two sprockets (with the right hubs welded on) and chain to replace the primary and secondary clutches...

or if you could find two small inner tubes (can't think of anything right now) that you could stretch over the two clutches, than strap a belt (pant's belt) around both and inflate them... that might hold out.

meh.. who knows..

[boncrshr]

Yeah...me either...I guess I'll just baby it. That is the second belt I shredded. The first was older than dirt, the second was too tight.

The belt I just shredded was an HP3032(too tight), my replacement is a HP3012(too loose). I am going to try a HP3013 now...should be in next week.

I have an old innertube I will take just in case. We are 15 miles away from the nearest road once we hit our camping spot so I was just being a worry wart I guess.

[Hey_Dan]

belt

This post reminded me of the time I shredded the serpentine belt in my Mustang, and the only tool kit I had with me was the kind that comes on a grey roll. I wrapped duct tape tightly around the crank and water pump pulleys and back 7 or 8 times, forming a duct tape belt. I had no alternator or power steering, but I was able to drive home without overheating. After I got home we reved the engine to see what it would take to throw the duct tape "belt" off. It came apart after a minute or two, but I was surprised how well it held up.

Now for an AATV I would probably use half a roll or so....

Maybe get it started around the clutches, hold the roll so it can spin freely, start the engine and let it wind itself around....

[Gary F]

spare belt

you must have a belt supplier down that area somewhere , you can use a groved belt from industrial supplier for lets say HVAC systems , you might find one pretty close in length and in width , may not be perfect fit but those belts are pretty strong , you just have to baby it some if your just looking for an emergency type fix .

[boncrshr]

Duct Tape!!! Great story...and I am embarrassed as a Southerner that duct tape did not come to mind!

BTW, I went to a local industrial supply warehouse this morning and they had nothing in stock that would work...so I will just baby it.

[Mike]

Dan, that is a great idea (and a good story).

[Jeff t-boss]

Have you looked in to a "Cevlar" belt that is an equivelant to the standard belt that you're currently useing? If you give the dealer your ARGO belt number, I believe he should be able to cross it over to a replacement cevlar belt. Cevlar belts are ALOT tougher than OEM belts, and if you pay alittle more, you have insurance that they won't crap out under normal conditions.

[6X6]

OK, As an avid boater, I also understand the importance of carying a spare belt. A club member had the Alternator belt on his boat break, (V-belt) Mercruiser uses Chevy blocks. This also took out the water pump and power steering (no biggie on open water but a must-have while docking in a crowded yatch club). He actually took his wife's Pantyhose, and wrapped them around the pullies, tied them tight, then took duct-tape and wrapped the panty hose severaly times. He said it held for well over an hour while he limped the boat home. I still say if I can have only 3 tools, Duct tape, WD-40, and Vise-Grips, what can't I do?

[LarryW]

When I was younger I had a S10 I put a 350 in. I threw the belt and milked it home using speaker wire. I bet if you had a rope/cable/wire and wrapped it up in duct tape and innertubes it may work for a while.

[iiijbird]

belt stuff

Being an old sledhead, I dont think wire or cable is to good of a idea, I have sucked in a couple of speedo cables when the belt has blown and buggerd up the belt surface in both cases [new clutches needed] Mabee if you had to.....
Just my 2 cents
CJ