Serpentine Belt too tight or loose?

**blommer** · 22-08-2013 04:57 PM

Hi guys

Just changed my belt and tensioner and it squealing !!

I bought a gates K070690 belt and a gates tensioner with pulley and now everytime when it starts from cold. A chirp like squeal can be heard. it dies down when engine is warmed up or when the aircon is turned on straight away.

Here is a pic of where my arrow is sitting. Is it too tight or too loose?

Belt seems to be 10mm shorter than Honda genuine belt but will a tight belt cause this sort of squeal or chirp?

**aaronng** · 22-08-2013 05:45 PM

Your belt is too short! You need to use a longer belt. The tensioner is putting too much tension on the belt, which puts additional load on the bearings of the pulleys, causing the chirp. Not good because the chirp is from the bearings and not from the belt!

**blommer** · 22-08-2013 06:14 PM

Thanks for the reply. I read on a post before and you were saying that a 7pk1750 is ok to use but a 1760mm should be the correct length.

Mine's a 69inch belt, converted to mm is 1752.6mm belt, it has 2mm more than 1750mm belt though, still too tight?

I had to remove the power steering assembly to get the belt to fit over the pulley as it was a bitch tight fit.

Once started cold and it starts chirping, I sprayed a mist of water on the belt and the chirp became louder so I was under the impression that the belt might be slipping, but having said that, how can a tight belt slip? Really contradicting.

**aaronng** · 27-09-2013 04:24 PM

Just saw your reply. After doing some further checking and going through my belts, I have come to the conclusion that the correct length is 7PK1750. After running in the longer 7PK1760, the indicator will sit just outside of the small square.

Thinking about what could make a belt chirp, it could be a pulley resisting the rotation. Take the belt off and ensure that the idler pulleys and the tensioner pulleys are free to spin. The remaining A/C and power steering pulley will have some resistance but should still turn.

**TheSaint** · 27-09-2013 07:18 PM

im looking to replace mine asap as its squealing as well

can you guys tell me where i can get the parts from?

and is it better to chase up a gates belt/tensioner or OEM?

also if i do the belt should i be doing the tensioner as well?

**aaronng** · 27-09-2013 08:59 PM

If your tensioner is rattling when running, then replace it. You will see the triangle moving around. I got my belt from my local parts shop. You can get the 7pk1750 from Amazon too, same for the tensioner. My tensioner was from my local shop too

**TheSaint** · 27-09-2013 09:53 PM

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GATES-7pk...item519c14bd1c

is that the right one?

im thinking it might be easier just to call my honda parts guy and get OEM parts ...

**aaronng** · 28-09-2013 06:30 AM

Yes, that's the one. When you first install it, the tensioner's indicator will be pointing to the right indicator. But once run in, the belt will stretch and point to the middle of the two indicators.

**TheSaint** · 01-10-2013 06:19 PM

is the OEM part number 38920RBBE01?

quoted $62 for the Gates "7PK1750"
quoted $165 for the Honda OEM "38920RBBE01"

bit of a price difference - is there any difference in quality?

**u mad?** · 01-10-2013 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by TheSaint

is the OEM part number 38920RBBE01?

quoted $62 for the Gates "7PK1750"
quoted $165 for the Honda OEM "38920RBBE01"

bit of a price difference - is there any difference in quality?

lolk highly doubt it.

You'd be stupid to buy the honda belt at that price