e-450 engine rattle - serpentine belt

[Johnynorthland]

Thanks guys! That’s what I figured. I’m actually taking my rig in for service this morning. I already have the pully and a new GY gator belt. I have 50K miles on the old belt, I might as well change it and keep the old as an emergency spare.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Bullitt6283

Installing the 'missing' pulley does not significantly affect the belt tension. In fact, when I installed my pulley, it was quite easy to deflect the belt by hand enough to get the pulley into place.
.

+1

This pulley does not create enough "extra" tension on the belt to cause or accelerate damage to any other component when the proper pulley is installed correctly.

If you're installing the pulley and you can't just push slightly on it, so it's just barely pushing on the belt, then you likely need to adjust your belt tension anyway.

I don't have as many miles as several of the others here, but however long it's been, I've observed no issues, and the rattle has not returned.

[thenne1713]

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

So you saying the extra pully added too much tension to your belt and caused the water pump to fail?

If this happens to be the case, I’m guessing that the water pump was on its way out and your extra tension just made it happen sooner. After all, you stated your chassis is a 1999, that about 25 years old. I would suspect the water pumps life span was well lived!

Has anyone else experienced this? I’d like to know ASAP because I’m about to add the extra pully this week on my 2019!

Actually, NOT saying too much tension, Engine rattle though engine old, had only 42,000 miles. and while some 6+ months later, no mileage, just weekly/ monthly driveway runs. I am saying the belt rattle maybe a SYMPTOM of the pump (or other bearing) problem, and if a big trip planned, MAYBE WORTH pulling belt and checking fan clutch/ water pump slop by lifting from the top? MIGHT SAVE YOU A ROADSIDE DOWNTIME. CLUTCH/BLADE is a HEAVY piece, and I did NOT detect pushing up from below, did not find it until 3rd disassembly. also of note: Despite the huge slack/ wobble in pump shaft that I found, I had barely any antifreeze loss noted from reservoir prior.

[Johnynorthland]

Originally Posted by thenne1713

Actually, NOT saying too much tension, Engine rattle though engine old, had only 42,000 miles. and while some 6+ months later, no mileage, just weekly/ monthly driveway runs. I am saying the belt rattle maybe a SYMPTOM of the pump (or other bearing) problem, and if a big trip planned, MAYBE WORTH pulling belt and checking fan clutch/ water pump slop by lifting from the top? MIGHT SAVE YOU A ROADSIDE DOWNTIME. CLUTCH/BLADE is a HEAVY piece, and I did NOT detect pushing up from below, did not find it until 3rd disassembly. also of note: Despite the huge slack/ wobble in pump shaft that I found, I had barely any antifreeze loss noted from reservoir prior.

Gotcha!

Thanks

[Johnynorthland]

Just heard from my mechanic today about the progress but n my RV. He’s telling me he had to change the belt to a larger belt because it did not fit around the new additional pulley he just put on. From this photos and form what everybody’s telling me on this forum all they did was add the extra pulley, correct?

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

Just heard from my mechanic today about the progress but n my RV. He’s telling me he had to change the belt to a larger belt because it did not fit around the new additional pulley he just put on. From this photos and form what everybody’s telling me on this forum all they did was add the extra pulley, correct?

I think the key might be "around". The belt should not go "outside" the new pulley (really it's old, should be called "re-added" but anyway). The pulley should just be putting the ever-so-slightest bend "inward" on the belt.

Take a look at post #25 in this thread. That shows how the belt should be routed, which is to say there is no change in the belt's routing.

ETA: The tech should have put on the new belt, properly routed, THEN installed the pulley. That's the way I would've done it anyway...

[Johnynorthland]

I picked up the RV this afternoon. I confirmed the belt is NOT on top of the new pulley, it’s resting, with slight pressure on top of the belt like everyone else has stated. My RV mechanic said the new pulley will not fit on with the OEM belt, but the new GY gator belt, (I listed above), fit perfectly with the new pulley.
However, I do have a ticking noise which the the tech said seems to be coming from the printed label on the outside of the belt, as it touches the new pulley. We confirmed this with a flashlight. After a 25 min ride back to storage it does seem to have disappeared. Anybody else experienced this?

[JFlightRisk]

The printing on your belt runs over three other pulleys, so only ticking on the one wouldn't make sense to me anyway. I can't make a guess long distance, but it should make noise on the water pump, tensioner, and passenger side idler pulleys as well.

[Johnynorthland]

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

The printing on your belt runs over three other pulleys, so only ticking on the one wouldn't make sense to me anyway. I can't make a guess long distance, but it should make noise on the water pump, tensioner, and passenger side idler pulleys as well.

Thanks, I thought the same thing, however, the new pulley is shiny. I think that’s the difference. When you hold a pen light on it, you can hear the ticking and visually see the print on the belt touch the pulley at the exact same time as the sound. As I stated it seems to be dissipating like the mechanic said, so I’ll give it a little time. The place I bring my rig to is excellent. They work on cars, trucks, buses, and RVs. I’ve going there for about 4-5 years now. They always do excellent work! I don’t doubt what they’re telling and showing me.