Fan-Belt too large

[Pucketsport]

I have a stock standard 57 with a 948 cc Engine. I have done a complete overhaul and I purchased a new fan-Belt from Moss which is apparently for my Engine (It is 900 mm long). But when I try and fit the belt it is way too big / long ??? I have a standard generator and all standard pulleys. Can anyone shed some light on why my engine seems to need a shorter belt ?

[philthehill]

The correct fan belt for your car is MOSS Pt No: GCB10900.
Have MOSS supplied you with that fan belt?

A silly question but have you tried the adjustment?

Have you got the adjustment bar the right way round?

Is the dynamo fouling so that the dynamo is unable to reach its full adjustment?

A photo of the dynamo and adjuster bar would be of benefit.

[Pucketsport]

I'll check the part number when I get home tonight.

A silly question but have you tried the adjustment? Yes, with adjuster bar fully extended the belt is very loose.

Have you got the adjustment bar the right way round? The length is the same no matter which way I fit it

Is the dynamo fouling so that the dynamo is unable to reach its full adjustment? No the restriction is the adjuster bar runs out of travel

A photo of the dynamo and adjuster bar would be of benefit. Will do that tonight when I get home.

Thanks very much for the reply Phil, much appreciated.

[philthehill]

Thank you for the information.

If the adjuster is fitted the wrong way round it can foul so as not to allow the dynamo to reach its full adjustment.
The single hole of the adjuster bar should be attached to the front face of the dynamo front plate and the slot fitted over the adjustment pillar which is attached to the engine front plate.

There are at least three dynamo/fan belt adjuster bars fitted to the 'A' Series.
They are part numbers:- 12H67, 2A497 & 12G2193.
Your engine should be fitted with 12H67 which is the straight adjustment bar.

[Pucketsport]

I have fitted it the way you described Phil and my adjuster is the straight one. I'll send a photo in the next hour or so.
Thanks

[philthehill]

Thanks for the reply.
Looking at the BMC parts list I discover that there were at least four different (narrow) pulleys fitted to the Minor and one wide pulley.
So it is not as clear cut as could be first imagined.

[Pucketsport]

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[Pucketsport]

The part number on the belt is QBA900 106 S2412 made by Quinton Hazell cant find what the Moss part number is.

[firedrake1942]

From the posts on here , it does not lookalike this is the first instance of fan belts too big.

viewtopic.php?t=47895

The Moss site has two types one at 825 mm and the one you presumably have which is 900

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/catalogsea ... q=fan+belt

It does say this suits 52-71.

However there is a difference here to the ones offered by ESM which looks like the 948 belt is quoted as being 813 mm smaller than the 825 and much smaller than the 900 you apparently have.

http://www.morrisminorspares.com/search/fan-belt

CW has a different system quoting 'large' and 'larger than 825 mm' Both ESM and CW quote this as suitable for engine no's 72610 onwards

http://www.morrisminor.org.uk/parts/11- ... fan?page=2

Who would have thought replacing a fan belt could be so complex?

[Pucketsport]

Thanks very much for all the replies, most helpful

[philthehill]

firedrake
I note that the MOSS site listing you have quoted above is for a MGB which appears to have the same drive belt as the Minor.
The MOSS parts list for the Minor does not list or offer the shorter belt at 825mm so even more confusion.

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-mo ... minor.html

Pucketsport
Thank you for posting the photos.
After reading the information above and contained in the links I would suggest that you obtain the shorter 825mm fan belt MOSS Pt No: GCB10825.
Send the 900mm fan belt back for a refund.
Phil

[firedrake1942]

Phil, it is most unlike Moss, from whom I have always received excellent parts and service. However I did a search on their site for Minor Fan belt and those two are what came up.

There is even more confusion on various sites if you factor in an alternator as there appears to be a different belt recommended for that.

It looks like they are common to quite a few makes of that period. I agree with you that 825 ought to be the solution as there is quite a bit of adjustment permitted by the dynamo sliding bevel.

The engine pictured looks beautifully done, but picking your brain, is the fan the right colour. I have been told that mine - also a 57 and painted yellow, should be painted red? I believe the dual blade was usually fitted in hotter countries for additional cooling and as in this case without the strengthening plate as the fan blades can then come perilously close to the rad.

[philthehill]

It is quite remiss of MOSS to give the wrong fan belt and no alternatives in their parts listing for the Minor.
As regards the colour of the fan blades - have seen red and yellow blades so I personally would not be too worried about either colour.
The twin blades BMC Pt No: 2A241 were as you say fitted to the engine for use in "Tropical" (quoting the BMC parts list) climes.
The two bladed fan is more than adequate for use in the U.K.
The stiffening plate BMC Pt No: 2A803 was not fitted originally but a spate of cracked fan blades with the cracks radiating from the qty 4 1/4" dia mounting holes necessitated the plates fitment.
The stiffening plate was fitted as regards the commercial applications from vehicle Com 56387.
Personally even with the twin tropical blades I would fit the stiffening plate. So long as the gearbox steady wire is in good condition and correctly secured/tensioned there is very little chance of the engine moving forward.
It should be noted that both the gearbox steady wire and the engine steady are retrospective fittings, early Minors had neither.

[firedrake1942]

Many thanks. Having re done the bushes on the engine steady and replaced the gearbox tie cable - which was in two pieces !!! I am happy it won't move, that said i have never had an overheating problem so will stick with the single blade and stiffener - and yellow !

[philthehill]

As regards the gearbox steady wire - as it was a retrospective fitment BMC used the existing 1/4" UNF bolts which from experience are totally inadequate.
When replacing the wire I always recommend that the bolts are increased to 5/16" UNC. The fine thread of the 1/4" bolts is not man enough to give long levity of service. The bracket attached to the gearbox will have to be drilled for the 5/16" bolts.

[Pucketsport]

Thanks so much Firedrake and Phil for the info. I will get an 825mm belt to resolve the issue , still a bit curious as to what is driving the need for it. I actually misplaced my original blade stiffener but have recently purchased a second- hand one so will fit that. Good to know the importance of the steady wire and I have a new one ready to be fitted.
I live in Australia and 42 degrees Celcius is common in summer so will keep the 4 bladed fan configuration.
What a great forum this is, I have learned so much from the many posts, thanks very much.

[TDV102]

A cautionary tale - when checking the fan belt always check the condition of the fan itself. Years ago a friend was doing the final setting up of his newly painted splittie. He blipped the throttle by hand while leaning under the bonnet - a blade flew off, shot past his head and embedded itself in his freshly painted bonnet!

[Pucketsport]

Thanks to all, I have purchased an 825 mm belt and it fits perfectly ( adjuster bar locking nut in the middle of the adjustment)

[ManyMinors]

It isn't an important point but I have never seen an ORIGINAL fan on a Minor of that age painted yellow. All have been red.
Later cars certainly were yellow I agree - the bright colour is to help visibility.

[Boomlander]

Agreed - early car's fan blades are usually red, later changed to yellow as blood from severed fingers can easily be spotted on the later blades which aids the cleaning process!