wexman

No harm done, except some fuel wasted. I'm glad they did - they (and I) wanted to be sure that this belt is going to track properly, and there is not some defective part that is going to make it walk after running for a while.

Buzzer

Scott...Did they give you a reason as to why it shredded? They don't do it on their own. If their defective they usually just break, not shred??

wexman

My point exactly, and exactly why I am concerned. If you read the duplicate thread to this over on TDR, you will see 5 people with 04.5s that had belts that also shredded, and were simply replaced. No issues since. Perhaps there was a bad batch, or some were installed wrong at the factory. At least the issue now is documented in the dealer's computer.

I have never owned a vehicle that had a belt shred or throw where it wasn't a pulley alignment issue. Time will tell.

hoot

Scott I'm glad you finally got your truck back. Should not have taken that long unless they were really doing a bangup job looking for the reason.

wexman

Thanks Mike. They had to order the belt on Tuesday - but never called me. Seems like I'll need to order another to keep as a spare, just in case. Sometime we'll get together and go over these engines. I need to learn more about them, and more about doing some mechanical things on the fly.

bulabula

A cheap belt can fail in short order. They are not all manufactured the same.

Its the same with hoses. Belts and hoses are one area where you don't want to cheap-out on - especially if a serp belt is a potential single point of failure. Might be a good idea to carry that spare. Save a roll-back ride.

wexman

So far, so good. Something I have noticed - this new belt does not do the Cummins "chirp" upon shutdown, and the old one did - quite loudly.

Just an observation.

Buzzer

You know, my engine/belt has never done that. Not once. I just get this "whoosh" compression related sound but never a chirp. The back of the belt has a pattern that would seem to prevent that type of slippage. I wonder if they changed belt designs at some time recently.

wexman

I just wonder if the slippage that causes the chirp had anything to do with the shredding?

Buzzer

Thats what I was wondering Scott. It would seem the slippage would wear the belt over time, but who knows?

JohnnyH

I'd like to find out if those that had belt shredding also had a squeak. Mine does not squeak at all on shutdown either. Could be something to post a poll about.

wexman

I was thinking the same thing. At least 5 people responded to me over at TDR that they had shredding issues, and one replied back that his new one did not screech either.

hoot

I don't think there is a relationship between squeek stop and shreading. Mine squeeks and I think everybodies will eventually, even after having a new belt that doesn't.

The squeek is common on almost all larger displacement diesel engines. The only difference a new belt may do is either not squeek because the rubber is brand new or because it's so tacky it doesn't allow any pulleys to slip at shutdown.

You all know you get the chirp because of the high compression instant rotation stop, sometimes even forcing a reverse in engine rotation (just a slight bounce).

I had 72,000 miles on my Duramax. It chirped it's entire life and many people ask about thier Dmax trucks and the chirp.

I think it's either a bad belt, bad install or factory component misalignment. I don't think the fact that you get a belt that doesn't chirp is the cure. I'm sure many had the chirp for 100,000 miles and more on original belts.

Just an opinion and subject to correction.

BigBlue

Mine's been squeaking for 68k miles and it's fine. Looks brand new. I like it.

wexman

I'll update periodically with any new developements (hopefully....NONE!)