OMC / GM Engine Belt Replacement problem

[paul1557]

Hello Again All,


Want to start by saying THANKS to all you guys for the great tips, tricks and help you've given me so far - Replaced my OMC outdrive with a 'new' rebuilt unit, alls good there now but new minor issue I want to ask all you 'smarted than I am' folks real quick... (That pretty much covers EVERYONE on here! L.O.L.!)

Set up:
1990 Donzi
1990 4 Cyl GM Engine
1990 OMC Out drive

Launched to test the 'new' out drive - all was good for about a mile out and notice my engine temp. gauge jump (fast, to about 175 when I caught it)

Shut down, inspected and sure as heck the INSIDE belt had thrown -(meaning the one closest to the actual block of the 2 that are on these engines)

Question is - Got the new belt - After taking a close look at the set up in there it almost looks like you have to literally unbolt the engine mounts and lift the engine to put the belt on - Is that correct?

It's the darndest thing I've ever seen - if you're in the boat facing the rear looking down into the compartment on the RIGHT hand side of the pulley it goes on it appreas (and feels) like the dang pulley has about a hairs spacing between a solid steel bracket that's part of the mounting and the pulley front lip and groove??!!
I don't see any way on earth to get the belt on there without entirely unbolting the entire engine mounting (and maybe even then having to actually lift the engine clear of the bracket)

I'm guessing there's something I'm missing here? An easier, faster way maybe?
If not that's got to be the most ridiculous set up I've ever seen if it requires doing that just to replace a belt, right?

I took some shots here - If I remove the big rusty looking nut in pic #3 (actually it's the long mounting bolt) it looks like I might be able to slide the belt back there underneath the engine mounting system but that doesn?t solve the problem of how to get the belt actually around the pulley at the spot in the 1st pic where you can see that mounting bracket blockage I'm talking about...

Any good hints here?

THANKS in advance..
Paul
Sarasota, Fl


P.S. I tried like the devil to put the pics in here but for some odd reason it won't lt me...

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: OMC / GM Engine Belt Replacement problem

I have practically same setup and I need to replace mine. I never looked at the configuration and the complicated thought of how to? Normally you would loosen alternator and that would allow slack once belt is on pulley then just pull tight on alternator tighten down and good to go. As for having to get under that bracket of some sort I will have to look at my configuration but I'm sure by the time I could 12 hours from now due to work the pros will chime in. I'll keep eye on post and hopefully I'll learn a thing or two.

Is it possible to remove harmonic balance pulley though and the place belt into position? Just a idea wish I could help more but at work.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: OMC / GM Engine Belt Replacement problem

What I will suggest that I can clearly see, lots of grime get that out of there. And those pulleys look rusty which is not good for that belt to be spinning on. Get some fine sand paper and wet sand that crap off. Good luck! If someone don't chime in I will look at mine later.

 

[888]

Re: OMC / GM Engine Belt Replacement problem

Motor mount needs to come off to change the belts.

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC / GM Engine Belt Replacement problem

Your OMC has the spacer like a Mercruiser does, so it's a fairly easy job. The hard part is to get the pulleys cleaned up and painted so you don't have to replace the belt every time you take the boat out.

 

[paul1557]

Re: OMC / GM Engine Belt Replacement problem

Howdy 888 and Don S.,

Yep, I hear you on the pulleys, I've been doing them as we speak - using a wire brush to get the 'really bad' surface stuff then going back and sand papering the rest down.
The boat was treated very poorly before I very recently aquired it - Trust me when I say I'd never let something I owned get into this condition - It doesn't look like it but you wouldn't believe how much cleaning and upgrading I've done already to it just to get it to the (still, but not for long) disgraceful condition it's in now...
Slow process but considering the condition everything was in when I 1st got it I've actually made quite a bit of headway and will of course keep going - In a couple months I'll post some pics of it and you won't reconize it as the same boat - have already bought new interior materials, front and rear seats, flooring (already installed that), gauges, etc...

I'm sepnding more than I 'should ' to do a boat this old but when I'm done it'll be just like several old Muscle cars I've restored - SHARP, worth owning and something to be proud to own, you know what I mean?

Finally occured to my slow thinkingg self that I could fairly quickly and easily remove the rear seat section (which I've bought a new one of with the intention of replacing the current 1 anyway) and that gives me a heck of a lot more elbow room and access to work and get to things, right?

But honestly, I have to say again that that is 1 of the poorest designs I've ever seen as far as what's required for a simple belt to be replace, or am I just being a little wimp here?!

Thanks for the info guys, as I've said before you boys are a great help!!

Paul