Gates Stretch Fit Belt Installation

When fitting Gates stretch fit belts, it is advisable to follow these guidelines:

1. Several stretch fit tools are available -- to ensure you choose the correct one please refer to the belt sleeve which gives the number of the required tool.
2. Instructions are also included on the inside of the belt sleeve, showing where and how to fit the tool.
3. Fit the tool as shown in the installation diagram on the belt sleeve, with the tool placed on the crank pulley and the bolt inserted until it touches the crank pulley.
4. Fit the belt over the pulleys in the drive as shown.
5. Using your thumb, hold the tool against the pulley while using fingers to hold the belt in the pulley grooves and against the outer edge of the tool.
6. Rotate the engine in the normal direction of rotation with the tool in place to leverage the belt completely onto the pulley and into the grooves.
7. Check that the belt sits well in all of the pulley grooves. If not, rotate the crank pulley, while adjusting the belt in the grooves.

[Deerector]

Finally a good video showing this tool. Thank you

[chrisarmstrong]

How is this better than an automatic belt tensioner that keeps the belt under constant tension throughout its life, even though the belt gradually hardens and stretches?

[jamescc]

Does this work with Honda Accord and Toyota? Great saving on time and labor :)

Does a belt has to be special like stretch belt, or any regular belt will do?

[alexmacdiver]

Nightmare.!
Under a VW Caddy with no A/C, Tensioner or Steering pump pulleys.
So the misalignment from lower, larger pulley makes alternator jump out of groove.
Needed Wooden wedges against engine-bay to guide it. . . . 26th attempt was successful, probably halved the belt life in the process.
Hinged Alternator worked fine, don't re-invent the wheel.

[danielwarren]

And what about when there's a water pump pulley

[orsolyakonyher]

bllusthit! how you do this when the engine is in the car, and you cant dance around the freakin thing, but only have 5 centimeters space to work??? i wish all the engineers who used to plan cars with strechbelt to work with this shit all day.