Alternator pulley/belt type

[bevans6]

The discussion on alt. pulleys has me thinking.  When the pulley on my 50DN fell off last year I had a heck of a time finding another one.  Luke ended up taking one off an old air cooled 50DN that he had on the shelf.  All the new alternators are using the flat multi-groove belts, 8 to 14 ribs wide.  I think that is what is on the Series 60.  What say you about the idea of switching to that type of belt from the old 4 belt vee-groove system?  I have an alternator pulley that I bought when I thought I was going to have to machine a new 4 belt pulley from scratch.  I could buy or machine a pulley for the engine side pretty easy, I think.  Would I need an idler pulley to increase the belt wrap around the pulleys?  I can only assume they can transfer the power with no problems.

Brian

[zubzub]

I guess it depends on how much room.  Seems to me all the flat belts I have seen use idler pulleys for tensioning as well.  Maybe the old V belts are more forgiving on loose belts.  I have trouble imagining a flat belt without an idler, do love the belt systems that don't require readjusting the tension.  I was thinking of springing my Alt to keep tension on the belt, but since I already have a twin v-belt drive will probably stay that way. 

[Gary '79 5C]

Brian,

I had two failures with the stock pulley & 50DN shaft. I have pulled the oil cooled unit and replaced with a 130A 24V unit. I have a two belt pulley and keep spares. They are just Vee belts. I believe the manufacturers maintain better tolerances, ie all are same size.

The best unplanned benifit is my oil pressure is up where I believe it should have been. I believe the restrictor was not in the oil lines and I was loosing pressure thru the alternator.

Any, my point is I jettisoned the OEM alt. in leiu of a more easily replaceable unit. I do not need the 200+ amp unit, nor the weight.

Good Luck in you endeavors,

Gary