Hot Rods 1/2 V-belt on 5/8 pulley?

Hey, all

Couldn’t find an answer to this using search function:

Is it ok to use a 1/2 wide V-belt on a pulley designed for a 5/8 wide belt, at least for a short while?

Thanks

 

How long is a while? If it’s an emergency...then yes, other than that no.


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it's likely to slip....

 

Maybe an hour? 20 miles, or so. All I’m running is a fan, and alternator.

 

It is easy for us to say yes or no . Go with your gut ,unless you are always wrong. Put it on, tighten it up and rev the engine and see what it does then decide.

 

If the 1/2" belt doesn't bottom out in the 5/8" pulleys' grooves it'll do just fine. The problem is when the bottom of the belt sits so deep it hits and keeps the sides from touching.

 

For an hour or 20 miles I would say your ok.
It will sit to deep in the pulley
But for an emergency or temp situation try it

 

In a pinch for a short distance it's ok to do.

Fan belts should not ride on the bottom of the pulley. Only on the sides.

 

Thanks for the replies.

Update: So far, so good. It’s definitely riding on the bottom of the pulley, and not the sides, but it’s not slipping. I think in the long run it will, but for now there is no noticeable difference.

 

Bubba Willys jeep guys do it all the time. The Willys engine uses a 5/8" wide belt but when the guys swap an alternator into cause the Gen has gone out or they are converting to 12V they run a std belt so it fits in the alt pulley. Cause they don't know to change the alt pulley.