Date:         Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:25:04 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Belt squeal question
Comments: To: Daryl Christensen <daryl@aatransaxle.com>
In-Reply-To:  <018a01cbd459$54a553d0$fdeffb70$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 11:30 AM, Daryl Christensen
<daryl@aatransaxle.com>wrote:

> Often the load from cranking the engine will make the belt squeal for a bit
> if the belt is a tad loose.
> Till the alt gets some charge going and reduces the alt load then its
> peachy.
>
> Daryl of AA Transaxle
> 425-788-4070
> "On the cutting edge of Old technology"
> 86 Syncro Westy w/Turbo Zetec in the trunk
>
>

  So (thanks, BTW Daryl) am I correct in supposing that the load on the
belt, the mechanical load it must rotate, is higher when the current draw
demands more electricity from the alternator?   I have only a vague idea of
how an alternator functions.

  When the battery or the operating engine "wants" a large load, either to
re-charge after a prolonged cranking start, or when you have every
electrical widget running in the vehicle, is that alternator 'harder to
turn'?  If so, then it sort of makes sense the belt might slip a little,
then 'get a grip' as the load at the pulley diminished.

  Don Hanson