I replaced my belts about 3 months ago because they we're worn and squealed. Last week they started sqealing again. It is a White Magic 1900 and has a belt tensioner. So should they sqeal when the belt self adjusts? Robert Allen.
I just recently replaced by belts after 5 years!! I'm not joking.. I have a White Magic 1600, it never had a cover (NEVER) you have to let the engine "breathe" my old boss used to take his cover off, and tell me that the cover holds heat it and that is what causes the belts to go soft..... Bill :yes::ballchain:
You may have the wrong kind of belt(s) on it. For instance, if it has multiple belts, they may be "A" belts. "4L" belts will do, but they're slightly narrower. (Same is true for "B" belts and "5L"). The narrower ones work, but then as they wear, they move further down into the groove, which makes them looser. When it comes to belts, my advice is to get the best, period. To me, that means Dayco, Gates or Browning. And each brand has different grades it offers. (For instance, Dayco "Gold" is the best they offer.)
Duane makes some good points. Belt tensioners are notorious for going bad too. My Dad had a friend who was a building Engineer and Raced Professional Drag on the side. I remember a long time ago he told me to replace the tensioner because I had a problem with one on my car. I never replaced it, but what I did do was take it off clean the bolt, and put thread lock on it and tightened it down. Believe it or not that did the trick. Sometimes tensioners like to loosen up.
check the alignment off the belts and pulleys. If the alignment is off it will prematurely wear the belt. Also check out the blower. the blower may be requiring more horsepower due to a build up off dirt on the lobes of the blower. If the inches of lift is set too high or the relief / knuckle valve does not open it would require more horsepower to run the unit than the belts can take.
They pretty much got it covered, Biggest mistake is runnin A (automotive) belts in sheived designed for B (industrial) belts. They have different degrees of angles and will wear faster and not cover the surface of the shive that they are supposed to.
I switched from using a double wide 42" belt from Prochem ($150) to using 2 single gates 42" vee belts. ($50) I find either way they last the same length of time before they disintigrate. Im sure the high heat of the Prochem Peak has something to do with it. Anyways, they may be automotive belts I dunno, but the cost is 1/3 for the same performance and much easier to get than ordering through a supplier. I had a similar "squealing" problem one time and found out that the belt on the machine was installed improperly for the solution pump. I discovered that the guys I paid to install the belt had looped it around the crankshaft instead of seating it in the Vee pulley itself. As a result they cranked up the tension to the max so that the pump would still run... somewhat, but an awful squeal and would lose pressure if you turned it up. Well duh. I never was a wrench jockey before I started this profession, but I've had to learn how to be one real fast because it seems nobody else can do it right lol.
i also have a WhiteMagic 1600 and it doesnt have a cover.. i bought it like that... my belts are squealing is it time i change them...
