Fan Belt Guard or not?

[EVfun]

I'm putting this out there hoping for answers and additional member input. Photos are always welcome too. Is your buggy street legal and is your choice is voluntary or legally mandated?

My user name Evfun comes from running an electric motor beach buggy from 1999 to 2017. There was no need for a fan belt. The motor cooling fan is internal, on the motor shaft. 14 volts for the lights was supplied by a DC to DC converter running off the 120 volt vehicle battery pack. From 1992 to 1999 that same beach buggy was VW powered and I never had a fan belt guard. I didn't have an engine cage or exhaust system covering the back of the engine either (dune buggy duals.) Now I'm assembling a VW powered buggy again, it will not have an engine cage and will be running VW Thing dual exhaust (I like loud a lot less now.)

Thank you!
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[Wolfgangdieter]

If the rear of the engine is exposed some states require the protective cover. I wouldn't want to get my clothing (or someone else's) caught up in it.
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CMC '57 Porsche Speedster Replica and Dolphin boat tailed full pan VW MOD-T Street Buggy

[vwracerdave]

I DO NOT run any belt guard and am not aware of any law in my state requiring them.
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2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK

[Dale M.]

Definitely not a fan of belt guards.... But then my belt hides behind a TRI-MIL quiet pack exhaust...

Dale
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“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[Wolfgangdieter]

for one, PA requires the fan shield -

https://www.steffysgarage.com/downloads/Regulations-for-Dune-Buggy.pdf
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CMC '57 Porsche Speedster Replica and Dolphin boat tailed full pan VW MOD-T Street Buggy

[oprn]

They are shiny and look nice but just another thing to rattle and buzz! I threw mine in the bush.

[Hot Air]

I like the vintage style
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73' Bug
85' Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2

[timcurtis67]

I run one (well the top part of one) just because I have young grand kids and I would hate for something to happen. It's why I wrap all of my exhaust pipe too.

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67 Desert Fox Spoiler

[MrGoodtunes]

Safety is important, of course, but... That guard is an obsticle to any work in the area, can block view of crank pulley timing marks! So maybe some kind of compromise, like @timcurtis67 has done.

[KingCarGuyZ]

I run one cause I’m around small kids fairly often and don’t want them to stick there finger in the spinning belt and get it cut off, but it is a bit of a pain whenever I have to do any work, I have to remove the cover. witch is just 2 bolts but It makes it a lot more annoying to try and change a fan belt on the road. Doesn’t look bad in my opinion though. For me it’s a must, but for someone that isn’t worried about people being idiots, then it’s mearly a style preference.

[EVfun]

That is a cool looking cover, Hot Air. It fits so well with the rest of your engine detailing.

I am looking at options for the Mini-T. With nothing behind the pulleys... Well, I thought nothing of it 20 years ago but I'm not so sure now. The thing is, most of the pulley guards I see look like cheap chrome junk prone to rattling and rust. Oh, and most don't look cool!

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[Wolfgangdieter]

I do like HotAir's cast aluminum one. I've only really seen the EMPI louvered or the mesh screen ones which serve the purpose but not very attractive. Not a fan of chrome - nor the upkeep required!
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CMC '57 Porsche Speedster Replica and Dolphin boat tailed full pan VW MOD-T Street Buggy

[EVfun]

I decided to give an old-school EMPI fan belt guard, p/n 19-02460, a try. There are some pictures of the guard posted with this car for sale (no endorsement of this car or the seller is implied.) The guard is designed to go between the pulleys so you cannot get your fingers inside. I wonder how well it really works, but it shows I tried and it clears the the Mini-T body.
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[Bkhansen93]

Too much of a pain to get off. Makes the 5-10 minute job of changing the belt take 20 minutes minimum. If you're like me, uncoordinated, has massive hands that cover a whole two octaves on a piano with each hand, and a 4-1 header exhaust and engine cage already blocking access you'll wish it wasn't on there. Took mine off and donated it to my naive brother. Boy will he learn soon enough.

[BugsBuggy]

I have this fan belt guard on my buggy. It's polished stainless steel I guess.

[EVfun]

That is cool looking BugsBuggy. The empi one that should be in my hands soon is similar. Here is a picture of one from an old Samba ad. Once I get mine I'll install it and get upload a picture of it on the engine.

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[BugsBuggy]

Thnx, glad you like it. I, personally, don't like the large covers with mesh or louvres. It should be more subtile in my opninion. It's more about looks though, and less functional as you still can get your fingers burned from the exhaust. Here is where I got mine from: https://en.hoffmann-speedster.com/bus/bus-t2/in-ho...r=010-1033

As I said it is stainless steel. It bolts right on the generator stand. Don't know about the Empi version, but this one is pretty solid. No tin can steel.

[EVfun]

Here is the old EMPI fan belt guard installed on the engine.

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[vw7266]

Looks great glad to see you put it to use!

[oprn]

That is a nice dress up addition and does not inhibit servicing the engine at all!