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Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Yahoo Message Number: 65739
A few days ago, my wife and I started out at 9:30 AM on a short journey, (about 200 miles) from our home in Chesapeake, VA to just outside Washington DC. About 15 minutes into the trip I got a high engine temp alarm and then the engine started to shut down. I managed to find a safe place off the Interstate to park. The temp gauge read "242" Degrees F. My first thought was the Sauer Danfoss controller had expired. I pulled the fuse and restarted the engine and the temps did not go down. Shut the engine down and did a closer examination. Immediately noticed the V-Belt was broken. I do carry a spare and told my wife we would be on our way in 10 minutes. When I put the new belt on I found the belt tensioner was broken, the internal spring had broken. I was fortunate to find the "NORFOLK TRUCK CENTER" about 2 miles from my location. Took the broken tensioner off (very easy one bolt) and went to the Truck center, they found a replacement, but it was in Norfolk (about 25 miles away), but they had a man over there and he would pick one up and have it to me by 1:00 PM. When I went to pick up the part, they had brought the wrong one back, so I had to wait until they went back to Norfolk, got the correct part and returned. It took about 10 minutes to install the belt tensioner and the new belt, so we finally got under way about 3:30 PM. I will now check the belt tensioner at least annually.

Earl Densten 03 Intrigue 11554 (400 ISL)

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65744
One quick question....how many miles on your coach when this part failed ? AL

00 affinity

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65746
Same thing happened to us in Utah, 70 mile tow ensued. I had a spare belt but the sealed bearing tension wheel was frozen solid. Spent the nite at the Freightliner shop awaiting replacement from SLC. Not fun but not the worst that could happen.
Coach has 115K mikes, didn't expect that. No way to lube them either. It's much better to break down near town! Mike

96 Intrigue

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65749
The coach has about 39,000 miles, I think the tensioner should have lasted longer than it did.

Earl

03 Intrigue 11554 (400 ISL)

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65752
Earl,

So your cooling fan (or hydraulic pump) runs off of a belt? On mine it runs off of a pump driven directly off of the engine mounted on the block. This also runs the steering, I think. The only things that run off of the serpentine belt are the alternator and the A/C compressor, to my knowledge.

Rich 2002 Magna

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65765
Kevin, Ah. I do not believe that the water pump on my C-12 is driven off of the belt, so I did not think of that. At least I cannot see it if it is. Is it? I guess Cummins does it differently.

Rich 2002 Magna

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65773
Several years ago while replacing the belt because of cracks, I noticed the tension wheel was a little difficult to spin. Took it off, removed the two bearings and went to local NAPA store for replacements. Pressed them in using a plain old bench vise and they have been working fine. Seems any repair shop could do this instead of waiting one or several days for complete part replacement. Of course, if the spring breaks, that's another story.

Mike Cebula
'95 Magna 5266

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65774
Hi Rich, No, the fan is hydraulic, but the water pump is driven by the serpentine belt, the A/C compressor is driven by it's own separate belt. These engines get very hot when there is no coolant be circulated.

Earl

03 Intrigue 11554 (400 Cummins ISL)

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65798
Thanks for bringing this up, Earl. I checked mine and it looks like it could use a little TLC. Thanks again - you may have saved me from a roadside fix.

Mark P.
#30916

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65809
When I had my oil and filters changed early last summer in Oklahoma City area I decided to change out the belts. The mechanic recommended changing out the belt tensioner as well as he felt it was close to failing. Mileage on my coach was about 100K. Far as I know, this is the first time the belts had been changed.
DougC

'95 CC Magna Caprice #5072

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65810
I know this doesn't pertain exactly but. On my dunebuggy LS3jGeneral Motors with a Kenne Bell blower the tensioner broke and it was actually a Catapillar number got it from NAPA But the main thing was I also changed the belt the next weekend and it was like bolting on another 100 horsepower. I had 700 at the rear wheels before and it would occassionaly pull the front wheels on level ground with a passenger but after changing the belt it would pull the wheels anytime, it was great just like getting a new car. Anyway a new tensioner and a new belt might give you some new pep and increase fuel mileage also. My 2 cents.

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65813
Earl,........

Please let me add my thanks as well.
Was doing this n' thats this afternoon and remembered the post on belt tensioners. Started the coach and by golly the tensioner was doing a bit of a dance. I'll call cummins tomorrow and start the replacement process. Between rubbing hoses and the belt tensioner, thats two possible breakdowns avoided.

Thank you,
ChucknKim

96 Magna 38 #5330

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65816
Earl, on the Cummins I believe you. On my CAT, I cannot find a pulley for the water pump, therefore, I assume it may be gear driven on this C-12. I once lost my belt and it did not result in any overheating.

Rich 2002 Magna.

Re: Cummins Engine Belt Tensioner

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65850
Ken here, Retired Cat Tech. You made me pull mine off on our IS-C. Glad this is bought to the table! My 2 cents. Our coach has 75k miles. After removing ours under a bright light after washing it off I see between the Pully end housing and the engine mount housing I see remains of a rubber or a fiber spacer Black in color as whats left. Anyho I will run this to Cummins here in Yuma, only a mile away and run this by them. Since our coach model year is a 1998 engine it could be age related. The Pully bearing feels good with no binding or noise. Often when running engine I put our heat gun on the bearing to see the bearing temp. You Cat users on your tensenor the Cat Yellow Paint turns Brown to black if failing but this only as seen like us look for wabble and loose metal pieces. I will keep you posted on findings. The Cummins owners user Man. shows very little on this but this is 1998 vintage info at that time. Ken 99 Allure 30356