Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 14, 2025 ...

Spare belts lifespan

February 25, 2021, 10:16:08 am

Good morning to all.
After washing our coach yesterday I opened the engine bay to rinse some of the dust off.
I noticed our air conditioning belt was missing and laying close by. Fortunately we had a spare.

My question is how long does a spare belt last( stay serviceable )when it's kept in the drawer in the LP compartment?
The belt came with the coach, along with a few others, and has no date.

Thanks Frank

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Re: Spare belts lifespan

Reply #1 – February 25, 2021, 10:18:19 am

I'm thinking there is no quantitative way of telling.
But my guess would be:"Until it breaks."

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Re: Spare belts lifespan

Reply #2 – February 25, 2021, 10:24:29 am

Old Gates document says "8 years if stored properly..." but if there is no manufacture date on the belt or package, how to know?

Scroll to bottom of page 5:  https://ww2.gates.com/IF/facts/documents/Gf000280.pdf

More:  https://www.gatesaustralia.com.au/~/media/files/gates/industrial/power-transmission/white-papers/old-proper-belt-handling.pdf

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Re: Spare belts lifespan

Reply #3 – February 25, 2021, 10:28:18 am

Generally, a belt's life is determined by the number of cracks per inch. On a single belt, one crack per inch is the limit, on a 8 rib belt, 8 cracks would be the limit. Use a bright flashlight if the belt is mounted. If you install a NOS belt, it would pay to inspect it after a few miles.

I've never had a problem with an belt in storage that I have installed. I've never had a belt fail that didn't show damage before.

The belt on our Case tractor is original from 1957.

On a Foretravel, the generator belt (if it has one) is the one most likely to fail as it's hard to see and adjust so it gets loose, overheats, fails but over a fairly long period depending on use.

Pierce

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Re: Spare belts lifespan

Reply #4 – March 01, 2021, 08:54:01 am

On a multi-ribbed belt, cracks across the ribs are normal.  Longitudinal cracks or edge splits or fraying call for replacement.

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Re: Spare belts lifespan

Reply #5 – March 01, 2021, 11:56:08 am

If you have a spare belt and need to use it to replace a worn or broken one go ahead and use it and get another one when it is convenient

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Reply #6 – March 01, 2021, 01:12:44 pm

Thought from a old oil seal, O ring, Bearing field sales,    Federal Mogul, Garlock..
An O ring or a oil seal is not a belt.  But a belt is mostly some variation of rubber.  For them dark, place no Ozone, no heat, some said 50 yrs.  Mil spec varied according to the rubber.  Memory 7 yrs, most, (FKM) 'Viton" 20 yrs

Really in my  older less handy years, I would put a new one on ASAP, Use the old one as a emergency spare.  Note the date in the log for the new one install. Note to the next guy guess how old on the old spare..

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Re: Spare belts lifespan

Reply #7 – March 01, 2021, 03:35:35 pm

The Age of Accessory Belts - another one of the indecipherable mysteries of the universe.

I looked to Google for enlightenment - found none.  There is TTBOMK no OEM marking on accessory belts to indicate date of manufacture.

In that case, what good is it to say a belt should only be stored for "X" number of years under ideal conditions?  Even if you record the date you purchase a "new" belt, how long was it sitting on a shelf or hanging on a hook in the parts depot storage room before you bought it?

I carry several spare sets of the belts used on our coach.  They are all "NEW" (unused) in the original slip sleeve package.  I have no idea how old they are.  One set came with our coach from the previous owner.  One set was given to me by another Forum member who sold his coach.  Two sets I purchased online from eBay.  They are all Gates Micro-V Green Stripe.  They are all identical in appearance, feel, flexibility, smell, lack of cracks...etc.  I can't tell any difference between them.

The next time I require a belt replacement, either emergency or routine, I will just use the first set I come to in my parts box and hope for the best.  Que sera sera.

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