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Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
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 Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Amazon lists 3 different Gates belts for my '86 - anybody have fitment info? |
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morymob
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007
Posts: 4683
Location: east-tn
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| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 3:51 am Post subject: |
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| One I've had problems with & dont use anymore is Gates, made in mexico, have to adjuset too soon they stretch too much. Dayco's mostly, gators if timing belts. Last timing used fact brand/as car, if it breaks too soon eng is junk. |
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Terry Kay
Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003
Posts: 13331
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| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 4:33 am Post subject: |
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But then on the other hand;
I've had Gates belts on my JD 1032 snowblower since 1972, and they just got beyond adjusting last year.
I know the implement drive & auger belts are not in a Vanagon, but they for sure are in a heck of a bunch heavier service situation than running a water pump & alternator.
Luck of the draw I guess---
Gates, Goodyear, Dayco, is my choice over EU issue belts.
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T.K. |
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slobrewer
Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2013
Posts: 65
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:22 am Post subject: |
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Just installed the Gates belts yesterday and what a difference! You can immediately tell that they're higher quality than the Continentals and they were even a better fit than the ones I took off. Thanks again for the recommendation.
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White 1988 Vanagon Westfalia (Automatic, A/C, solar, aux battery, 15" GW wheels, 8' Fiamma awning, 63 qt. Edgestar fridge, homebrew on tap) |
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Terry Kay
Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003
Posts: 13331
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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As long as you keep an eye on the belts adjustment the Gates belts will do you well.
Pretty tough belt.
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T.K. |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7924
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 11:49 am Post subject: |
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Bumping this back up to update this:
| AtlasShrugged wrote: |
I've had good service out the Gatorback belts
A/C belt 17456
WP/Alt belt 15440
PS belt 15430 |
I'm currently replacing my van's alternator and, naturally, the Conti-Tech belts are cracked to s**t, requiring replacement... yet again.  In searching for brands out there other than Continental to consider, I found this thread and went in search of Gatorback. Well, bad-ish news: Goodyear Gatorback is now Continental Elite. Part numbers are the same as above (although Conti lists 15436 for P/S, which is a tad longer than 15430). The Elite belts are available at Summit Racing, Rock Auto, Amazon, and eBay.
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~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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AtlasShrugged
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2008
Posts: 1605
Location: Decatur, Ga. USA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: Cracking drive belts |
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If your surf around Ebay you can find the old Goodyear Gatorbacks..I don't know if Continental changed the design..hope not..it was a good one.
This fellow has two of the three belts. http://stores.ebay.com/closeoutautoparts/ |
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CessnaJon
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2008
Posts: 677
Location: Senoia,GA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: Cracking drive belts |
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Napa has great belts, it's all I use. I think Gates makes em.
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1973 Westy (shared birthday)
1990 Westy Multivan
2015 Passat TDI 6sp
2015 Sportwagon TDI 6sp
LR-JET, Gulfstream 159 |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7924
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:47 pm Post subject: Re: Cracking drive belts |
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| AtlasShrugged wrote: |
| If your surf around Ebay you can find the old Goodyear Gatorbacks..I don't know if Continental changed the design..hope not..it was a good one. |
Same design, which is good. Hopefully, the quality is as good.
I need the van back together ASAP so I can move it out of the garage to get my water heater replaced (died 6 months out of warranty  ). Thus, I'll be going Gates this time around, which I can get locally today.
_________________
~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: Cracking drive belts |
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some water heaters merely make less chilled water, or tepid water
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Gizmoman
Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2011
Posts: 1554
Location: Nevada
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:14 pm Post subject: Re: Cracking drive belts |
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I agree with Terry on the Gates. I design/build machinery and am in contact with their Engineers often. They have an excellent QC department (at least for the synchronous products) and take their product quality seriously.
That said, belts are very similar to tires and age can be a big factor. Not sure how you'd know how old one was just sitting on the shelf though.
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82 Vanagon Westy - AAZ 1.9 TD, HE200 Holset, WAIC, 27.75 dia tires, Electric power steering, 5-speed AAP w/.078 5th
Oversize spare carrier - stock location (no longer for sale). |
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