OBA Belt

[4.Oh]

Santa was kind enough to bring me a Kilby KE-1550-K for Xmas. Just got all the parts needed to install and am having a hard time finding a belt to fit. They say to get a belt 4" longer than a YJ with A/C. Went to NAPA and got a belt 95 5/8". WAY TO LONG. Back to NAPA and get one 92"s even. WAY TO SHORT. Back again, get one 94"s even. NO WORKIE. Back and get one 95 1/8"....STILL SHORT. The adjustment on my power steering pump is only about 2"s. Called Kilby and talked to tech, they don't know why it won't work as NAPA uses Gates belts and that is the belt Kilby sells. Am thinking about extending the adjustments on the P/S pump. Any other thoughts or insight?

[MattPascoe]

Sahara... 4.0HO right?

Isnt the belt tension set by the alternator?

[love24wheel]

4.oh,
Were you the one I talked to today regarding this very same problem? I work for Kilby, so chances are it was you I was talking to. One thing I forgot to mention is, remember, belt brands have slight differences in length between the brands, so one brand might fit, while others won't. When we built these brackets, we designed every bracket around Gates brand belts, so using anything different COULD cause a slight fitment problem. Like I said when I talked to you on the phone (If in fact it was you) Your call was the first one Ive heard like that. I can say, here is a good place to ask this question, as there are bound to be other jeepers with this kit that can tell you what belt will fit... Sorry again, that I couldn't help you more :(
Scott

[4.Oh]

Matt,
If there is an adjustment on the alternator it is very well hidden.


Scott,
Yep we talked. Am going to try another parts house and see what brands they carry. Numbers don't ad up when I get a belt 95 5/8" and one 95 1/8" and there is more than 3" between them. Also have been thinking if making spacers/washers to put between the mounting brackets on the P/S pump, Alt. and A/C brackets to take up more slack if need be and maybe redrill the holes in the Kilby mount plate.


Thanks for the help everyone.

[love24wheel]

Hope you get it worked out.. that does seem odd that the two belts with 1/2" of difference between them worked out to 3" of length difference.. Somethings not right there..
Scott

[bandon]

I had the same problem with my supercharger . I bought over 200 dollars worth of belts that didnt fit. I finally had to make brackets to move the air compressor towards the pass. fender to take up the slack. There is no adjust at the alt. also since most of the componenets mount on the front its hard to find one you can move. My main problem was that I had a special bracket from arizona mobile air that added about an inch to the whole system ,over that of a factory 4.0 with air. good luck

[MattPascoe]

There is no adjust at the alt.

Didnt know that:slapz:

On my 4.2 the alternator has quite a bit of adjustment. Thats how you tension the belt. My power steering has NO adjustment.

When I did my OBA it was just trial and error with belt length till I got the right one.

[4.Oh]

Found 2 parts houses in town that carry gates belts. if no luck with them looks like some fab work is in order.

[Dev Dev 23]

Matt, the 4.0 has it's tensioner behind the power steering pump as opposed to the alternator like your 4.2. 4.oh, are you sure you're routing your belt correctly? I first got a belt that was four inches longer, like Kilby recommends, but ended up going back for a belt 1.5" longer than that, so an overall length 5.5" longer than stock w/ a/c. Trial and error seems to be your only friend.
Devin

[whooven]

I didn't realize there was that much difference between the 95 and the 93 Sahara YJ that I have. With my York OBA I had to use a 102 inch belt, Goodyear Gatorback 4061020. Stock was 70 inches. I didn't have factory air.

[love24wheel]

Seems to me that there shouldnt be that much difference between the years.. Im still way confused about this..
Scott

[4.Oh]

Devin,
Have tried 4 belts so far. I have put these belts on so many times all I have to do is take it out of the package, throw at the heep and it will open the hood all by it's self and the belt falls in place.


Wooven,
No A/C on this Sahara either. Wish I was as lucky as you to find one that fits.


Scott,
Put my old belt back on and am going to take it to work this weekend and fab a bracket from flat bar or something and mount the extra idler pully higher up and maybe some washers under the comp. plate. Will let ya know how it turns out.

[Dev Dev 23]

Belts come in 1/2" increments. How can you not find one that works? And you're sure you're routing it correctly? It should look like this:

http://onboardair.com/images/beltwrap1.gif

If you don't get the new lower idler pulley, you might not get good grip around your alternator and it could slip.
Devin

[4.Oh]

Devin,
I have gotten belts in 1/4" increments and it is either to long or to short, thought NAPA had bad part numbers but the counter guy even broke out the fancy belt measuring thingy. I have talked to Scott (aka Love24wheel Kilby tech) on the phone and he even measured the extra idler pulley I picked up at NAPA (70mm or 3") and it is the same as they sell. Also I have that same belt routing printed out and under the hood to use with all the belts I have tried to give a good home to.

Thanks for your help. It will be made to fit one way or another.

[YJ Ken]

After a few trips back and forth to Autozone I finally got the right one. It was a Kelly-Springfield @ 100.5".

'93 YJ 4.0L no A/C.

[4.Oh]

Got it figured out. seems that someone put an all thread in the idler pully hole that would have been there for A/C and what I should have been using for the pully I bought. looking at it, it looked like a bolt screwed into the block to help guide the timing chain cover in place. after looking at another 4.0 it dawned on me what was amiss. got the right bolt for the pully and looks like a belt 101-102" will put me mid-range of the adjuster.

Thanks for all the help.

[Dev Dev 23]

Glad to hear you got it set up correctly. I love my OBA, I got to use it a couple weeks ago in Moab. Air tools on the trail rock!
Devin