Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Auxiliary Belt Change

I think the auxiliary drive belt loses flexibility with ageing rather than with mileage - I have no evidence for this, just a supposition based on the time they seem to last on Morgans.

Agree with Paul, my 4/4 is a 2012 with 13,000 miles but I've changed it on the basis £11.00 for a genuine OE Gates belt and 10 mins to fit it is a small price to pay for peace of mind. I've read stories of Morgan owners having been left stranded at the roadside and even had to be trailored back from France when the belt failed.

One thing I noticed ts that the new Gates belt has a serrated side rather than a flat side where it contacts the idler wheels and my original flat one had rubbed the paint off the idler wheel which no doubt is the reason for the squealing reported by some owner.

I find it amazing that people will travel abroad without a few basic spares, especially drive / alternator belts, even if you can't fit yourself the breakdown chap / garage will make use of it and save a ruined holiday

Agree, I bet he takes a spare V belt to France next time!

I had a rotor arm fail on a car a couple of miles from home but always carried one in the car after that!

When I bought my Plus8 there was the chirruping sound during the test drive (not a new car). A well documented issue in GoMog in the Plus8 specific section.It was sorted by Berrybrook but did come back a year later. I removed the ribbed belt ( it looked new) , cleaned it and used brake cleaner sprayed onto a cloth on the pulleys. It has not come back since then. Belt is still looking very good with no signs of cracks etc.The Plus8 fix in Gomog was to use a 1mm narrower belt, I think.

Yes they recommended the 6PK-1025 which has one rib less instead of the standard Gates belt which I have of 7PK-1025 which is silentish..

If it starts I just hold a cap full of Cellulose thinners near the belt whilst it's running and it cures it instantly for a long time.
I learnt the trick from a very old experienced Engineering colleague of mine except we would use CTC which is no longer readily available.

Would that be good for a maintenance job as well as a curative job?

I see no reason not too, I have only had to do it once in 5 years to my present car though.
We used to get the CTC out of those old brass fire extinguishers , it was heady old stuff though.

The Good Doctor in Northern Ireland (OWL) pioneered the 6 rib belt. I just took a Stanley Knife and cut off one rib of a 7 rib belt. Sure do not need a 7 rib, afterall a Morgan +8 does not have a Steering Pump nor Air conditioner compressor. This solved My squeek.

Do you have a god complex?