New lawn mower belt for power steering

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

I replaced my squealing power steering belt today with a Gates PowerRated lawn mower belt 6827 (1/2" x 27"). The old belt was a 3/8" x 26" belt with too many cracks for comfort. A 6826 26" PowerRated belt won't fit onto the pulleys. Being a wider and stiffer belt, I had to take the pulley off the pwr steering pump to get the 27" belt on, but with the tensioner bottomed out, it was a bit on the loose side. What I really need is a 1/2" x 26.5 belt but they don't make one that size. 6827 is the same belt I put on the alternator which fixed the squealing problem. I am hoping that it will also work in the pwr steering. Time will tell.

[EcoTX]

How do you run your water pump pulley with this setup?  Different pulley set up?

I would like to ditch the power steering on my ECOdiesel, but wouldn't have a way of turning the water pump pulley without it since the water pump and power steering are run on the same belt.

I could probably get a belt around the crank and water pump pulley, but then there's no way of tensioning the crank or water pump obviously...

[CRSMP5]

late 91/92 they went to a solid watrer pump pully with no clutch... so ac tensiones it.. or no ac alt would...

[EcoTX]

So I just need to find a water pump pulley that isn't 2 pieces... lol 

Does the water pump itself need to be changed?  I recall there being two different ones like how far the shaft stuck out or something on account of the pulleys used...

Any part number for this pulley or what cars it came on?

[JamesT]

Or just run a serp belt from a mk3.

[CRSMP5]

water pump same small hub since 82ish..

ac vs no ac is different pully due to belt widths..

id say 85/86 and 91/92 golf/jetta and late b3 passat

the differance is the lack of the spinning middle of the water pump pully.. its solid.. weighs 1/2 as much and do not wear out..

[EcoTX]

Or just run a serp belt from a mk3.

Serp belt setup isn't worth the time / effort for me.  I would like to just replace one pulley and run 2 belts instead of 3 and sell the power steering set up.

water pump same small hub since 82ish..

ac vs no ac is different pully due to belt widths..

id say 85/86 and 91/92 golf/jetta and late b3 passat

the differance is the lack of the spinning middle of the water pump pully.. its solid.. weighs 1/2 as much and do not wear out..

Thanks for this, however mine is a 92 Jetta and has the clutched water pump pulley set up... wouldn't every MK2 with AC and PS be the same setup?

[JerryGTD]

I am pretty sure my 85 Jetta TD with P/S and A/C came with a solid dual belt water pump pulley.   So if the P/S belt went, you could still drive the water pump with the other belt.

BTW, I started using that gates power rated  6827 belt as a replacement for my alternator belt about a week before you did Steve so I will take credit for that mod. Thank you.   

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

Yeah Jerry, you get credit for finding the correct size lawn mower belt and trying it out first on the alternator.

Don't forget that 2 weeks prior, we were discussing why the alt belt always squeals on our cars. You suggested it was due to a poor tensioner design where there is less and less contact between belt and pulleys with more and more adjustments. I suggested work around ideas, one of which was to try a heavy duty industrial belt, the other was to remove the tensioner altogether so the belt runs straight and fabricate a simple tensioner. I chose the latter idea while you pursued the former.

It turns out the second idea does not work because there is not enough adjustment range (about 1/2" swing) on the alternator. While I had things apart, you found a lawnmower belt which seems to have solved the squealing problem. Do I get credit for suggesting the idea of using an industrial belt? I am sure others have used an industrial belt before and posted about it. Getting credit is not what I am after, it is more important for me to share my ideas and work around solutions to keep these cars running.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

How do you run your water pump pulley with this setup?  Different pulley set up?

I would like to ditch the power steering on my ECOdiesel, but wouldn't have a way of turning the water pump pulley without it since the water pump and power steering are run on the same belt.

I could probably get a belt around the crank and water pump pulley, but then there's no way of tensioning the crank or water pump obviously...

On my 92 Eco, the pwr steering belt drives nothing else. My water pump is driven by the AC belt which in turn also drives the alternator. I am pretty sure of that but I wil go check. Is yours different?

[JerryGTD]

Thanks for giving me my share of the credit.   As I recall you failed at your attempt to aquire said industrial belt from your local auto parts suppliers.  As it turned out, one week after our discussion about your squeaking alt belt troubles, my alt belt frayed.  So I took your idea and ran with it.  However, I decided to go a with a wider belt than spec and my autoparts supplier recommened the Power rated belts because he has good results with them.

I have been dealing with this belt setup since the mid 90s on my 85 Jetta TD. My 85 did not have the same problems of shreding the alternator belts as our 91 ECOdiesels do.  On my 85 I used an oversized wire going from the alt to the battery so that may have helped it. Also the ECOdiesel seems to be drawing more amps right after startup than on my 85.  I am also thinking of running a seperate ground wire to the alt case.

The reason why I did not post this mod right away is because it was untested. With the excessive amount of tension on this belt on first install I was afraid it might prematurely wear the water pump and alt bearing. As it turns out, that doesn't seem to be a problem now that the belt loosened up a bit.

"Do I get credit for suggesting the idea of using an industrial belt?"  You sure do.  Funny thing is how you could have easily mentioned me on your first post but somehow left me out of the equation. Ever hear of intellectual property rights?  I Kid, I kid.  

"Getting credit is not what I am after, it is more important for me to share my ideas and work around solutions to keep these cars running."  Bravo.  That is why I shared my vast experience with these cars with you.  Unlike you, I don't post as much on here as you do.

[Thezorn]

Not to try and steal any sort of thunder, but ive used a lawnmover v-belt for almost the past 3 years on my AAZ powersteering 
Deffinatley have not had any issues, and its a hell of alot cheaper as a bonus to.

[bajacalal]

Lawn mower belt.

Plastic bottle hone.

I think this is how they keep cars alive in Cuba.

[vanbcguy]

Lawn mower belt.

Plastic bottle hone.

I think this is how they keep cars alive in Cuba.

Canada too...   We do have a reputation for being a bit 'frugal' though.

[8v-of-fury]

Lawn mower belt.

Plastic bottle hone.

I think this is how they keep cars alive in Cuba.

Canada too...   We do have a reputation for being a bit 'frugal' though.

Canadians frugal? Lol Yes I totally agree! haha