Useful links for belts/hoses info

This may be of interest to some O/O's around here and it does not just apply to Peterbilt. I was not sure where to post it and tried to utilize the proper wording if somebody used the SEARCH feature in the forums looking for belt info, this might help them. It kinda surprised me that the web developers of the sites below had initiated such a service, especially for the heavy duty market.

Fan belts, whether serpentine or otherwise, can be troublesome at times to size and locate. I like to keep a record of part numbers for all the various accessories, belts, components when I can actually read them off the original. I got most of that info when this latest truck was put into service for future use but the original belt numbers were not legible even when new. You may have the good/bad fortune of hearing that strange thud under the hood and begin to wonder "What was that?" Good being the part that you are not going to have to take out your trusty pocket knife and cut the belt off because time, age and centrifugal force already done half the job for you. Bad being the part where you gotta do it now, on the side of the boulevard...in the desert...at night...kickin' the snakes & porcupines out of the way. Preventive maintenance is a good thing.

These 2 manufacturers sites below will allow you to enter the 17-digit VIN to get a display of the belt part numbers and hose information. DAYCO belts website also brings up part numbers for the belt tensioners for fan/alternator/air conditioning applications, where applicable. GATES may do so as well. I know that the GATES site also gives the original equipment manufacturer's part numbers as well as their own. And I'm pretty sure they offer a parts number cross-reference for other numbers. I just found it to be helpful and thought to myself, as you probably will..."Why didn't this get done long ago?" Calling around to my local parts guys today, I mentioned this about one of the websites and my counter guy said "Wow! I have been waiting for Peterbilt to do this for years...make my job a lot easier!" I had to inform him that Peterbilt or Paccar didn't do it...it was the belt/hose manufacturers sites.

Anyway...here are the links if I am able to post them:

GATES HEAVY DUTY VIN DECIPHER TOOL

DAYCO VIN DECIPHER TOOL

The DAYCO site will require you to select "Heavy Duty" if searching for your big rig. Both sites will also have Parts locaters using Zip codes, addresses, etc however I noticed many Advance Auto & AutoZones listed for sellers. I know these places won't carry or stock such heavy duty items but I am not sure if they can indeed order them. Anyway, it gives you something to go on when checking out your favorite Fleet Pride or TruckPro. In the past, an inquiry about fan belts always ended up with "bring in the belt and we'll try to match it up". That used to work years ago...and still does in some cases, but these 6-12 rib serpentine belts & others get a little aggravating to source if you waited too long to change 'em.

Just to be sure, I called my Pete store and asked my parts guy to give me the belt numbers using the last 6 of my VIN. He gave me the original Pete part numbers, which coincided with the GATES site VIN look-up for my truck.

No big deal but maybe it'll make somebody's life a little easier. Check them belts for cracks and change 'em if needed. My 12 rib serpentine belt for an ISX fan belt was only $35.25 & the A/C 6 rib was $25.72. Yep, that's a lot more than the ol' $4.50 NAPA Gold v-belt but just like that leather belt I used when I was 17 years old...neither one of them will fit around the thang they need to fit around.

 

Thanks back at ya, Dog. Yeah it's hard to keep spare everything in your truck just in case but belts don't take a lot of room.