Dinan pulley belt is a POS

[SonnyJack]

Originally Posted by MFL

Actually,

We found a better way. Get it pre-staged on the tensioner, crank and AC. Drop the tensioner all the way down, and slip it under the power steering. It allows you to leverage your forward weight to force it into position.

Since my radiator is out, I'll snap some pictures, maybe a video if I get some time tonight.

Belt Dressing is your friend too.

That's much better said than what I typed, but EXACTLY the same process. There is simply no other way to get it on.

[m3ray]

^ Some sensible options. As opposed to stretching the belt on a medieval rack contraption.

As I stated earlier this boils down to not having the knowledge to do the job correctly. Thankful there is this forum. My advice (if he cares to heed it) is not to use that comprimised belt.

[MFL]

Yeah, Don't stretch the belt out on your own...I only want to install these belts when absolutely necessary.

[Gossypiboma]

Originally Posted by MFL

Actually,

We found a better way. Get it pre-staged on the tensioner, crank and AC. Drop the tensioner all the way down, and slip it under the power steering. It allows you to leverage your forward weight to force it into position.

Since my radiator is out, I'll snap some pictures, maybe a video if I get some time tonight.

Belt Dressing is your friend too.

I just tried your approach and again my belt needs to move about another 1/2 inch to even begin touching the lip of the pulley where you would be able to start to push it on. Thats with the tensioner bottomed out, belt on all the other pulleys and 2 people pushing down on the belt towards the bottom of the PS pulley. It will not move any further. Its not even close.

I am thinking either this belt is shorter than what Dinan intended or there are variations in the pulley sizes on some M3's. The last option being unlikely.

Pics or a video would be amazing though.

[bigjae1976]

I got a used Dinan pulley and belt...it all went on pretty easily. Do maybe the belt does stretch.

[Hujan]

Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble, OP, especially since I sold it to you!

If you end up ordering a new belt and finding out that I gave you the wrong one, let me know and I'll help you out. It shouldn't be your burden to bear.

[CIFUM3]

I've done some "ghetto rigging" to make stuff work on my cars.... But that stretching of the belt with a jack and some blocks is beyond me! Wow

[happos2]

Is this belt Brand New? Sounds like you bought it from Hujan who probably used it (though could have bought new and sold new). So if it has been run before, it would already be naturally streched. Stretching it morel is not a good idea.

[MFL]

The belt DEFINITELY stretches. I also have a used belt to compare to a new one. When the new one is tight, the used one has slack in it.

Again, belt dressing is your friend guys. Don't use WD40.

[Hujan]

Originally Posted by happos2

Is this belt Brand New? Sounds like you bought it from Hujan who probably used it (though could have bought new and sold new). So if it has been run before, it would already be naturally streched. Stretching it morel is not a good idea.

The belt I sent BigBoost was a spare that I bought with the kit. The belt I used got thrown away after I literally severed it with a knife when I removed the Dinan pulley. Cutting it was easier than trying to pry it off.

It's a tight fit even when it stretches. I think Dinan spec'd the belts a little too tight, IMO.

[Beemdog]

This belt tightness seems a bit much-- could buy the belt from someone else who sells underdrive pullies?

[Gossypiboma]

I gave up. I talked with Dinan and they had no answers either. Dinan did say that they have had authorized installers come across certain cars that they simply could not get the belt on. These are places that have installed dozens of this very same pulley/belt.

I'm willing to bet that there is some variance in these already short belts and this one happens to be a short one.

After searching I believe this belt is suppose to be 1050mm in length. I also found that the Active Autowerks double sided belt for their pulley is 1070mm in length, I wonder if that extra 20mms is just right or too much to be used with a Dinan pulley? Any ideas?

I plan on ordering a new one and going another round with this beast.

[V1.47fan]

Originally Posted by tinman831

When I replaced the belts on my e46, the belts came on and off easily. If the OP is retracting the tensioner all the way and the belt still wont go on, then this is a design flaw within the Dinan belt itself. The tensioner is supposed to set the tension, but this doesn't work if the belt is too tight even with the tensioner in all the way.

+1

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by BigBoosting

I gave up. I talked with Dinan and they had no answers either. Dinan did say that they have had authorized installers come across certain cars that they simply could not get the belt on. These are places that have installed dozens of this very same pulley/belt.

I'm willing to bet that there is some variance in these already short belts and this one happens to be a short one.

After searching I believe this belt is suppose to be 1050mm in length. I also found that the Active Autowerks double sided belt for their pulley is 1070mm in length, I wonder if that extra 20mms is just right or too much to be used with a Dinan pulley? Any ideas?

I plan on ordering a new one and going another round with this beast.

Belts are belts. Take the stock belt and measure the difference in size for the new pulley. Subtract that from the stock belt and go to the store and try and size the correct one. You should def be able to find a replacement that works fine.

[MFL]

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

+1

Perfect.

[Gossypiboma]

Originally Posted by s85e90

Belts are belts. Take the stock belt and measure the difference in size for the new pulley. Subtract that from the stock belt and go to the store and try and size the correct one. You should def be able to find a replacement that works fine.

Which is what I attempted on day 1 but the size needed would be about a 1060mm double sided belt, which isnt made. Nor is a 1050, 1055, 1065, or a 1070.

So no it is not possible to go to a local store and pick up a better sized belt.

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by BigBoosting

Which is what I attempted on day 1 but the size needed would be about a 1060mm double sided belt, which isnt made. Nor is a 1050, 1055, 1065, or a 1070.

So no it is not possible to go to a local store and pick up a better sized belt.

Sure they make them. Goodyear lists it here http://www.goodyearep.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=3128

[Gossypiboma]

Originally Posted by s85e90

Sure they make them. Goodyear lists it here http://www.goodyearep.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=3128

for whatever reason that link is down right now. You saw 6 rib double sided belts in one of the above lengths?

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by BigBoosting

for whatever reason that link is down right now. You saw 6 rib double sided belts in one of the above lengths?

I just typed in 1060 for length. I used to use string to size belts and the store always had what I needed, I'm sure you can find something. Otherwise ditch the pulley... May not be worth it.

[Gossypiboma]

What you saw was single sided belts, those are made in almost any size and configuration. Double sided belts are offered in far less sizes.

[s85e90]

Yeah I put in "double sided serp" but see that it's a single now. Sucks man, good luck getting it sorted.

[BPMSport]

Good luck getting it sorted.

When I was installing my supercharger there was a bit of a snafu because the AC belt from my underdrive pulley wouldn't fit.. Luckily my 08 has the single sides belt setup which made it easy to get one from the parts store. The double sides belts definitely add a monkey wrench into the mix.