Technical Flathead Belt to pulley contact ???

What is the minimum belt contact on Flathead Ford water pumps? With an offset generator mounted on the drivers side, off the head, the belt has a steep angle of attack and a small area of contact. This is an 8BA with early heads and thin belts. Could install an idler after the pump but was curious what others have done that works...

 

whats a smal area? how about a picture?

 

About 2" of contact. I have seen similar on other engines with this set up but I am concerned with slippage and cooling issues on that side.

 

I have the same situation with my flathead powered '40, zero problems.
Not to worry, this setup has been working for hot rodders since 1946.

 

Edmunds has a setup to remedy that. JMHO

 

Would be interesting to see that set up. But just remember ordinary fan belts are not designed to run with their backs broken, that is an idler on the outside .

 

Interesting comments... here are a couple of pics of the mock up. I sort of get the idler issue but the contact area is even less than I thought. I could possibly get the gen closer to the center line but that is a lot of work....not trying to reinvent the wheel here. There might be another way to run the belts. I did lower the gen after these pics but it only made a little difference ( it looks higher than it is on Offy mount).

 

Did they make a mount that had the gen strait up instead of 2:00
The late mount off the intake would solve the problem but with the 4 carbs their is no room for the fuel fitting.

 

mcbay First your water pump pulleys are incorrect the belt does not sit in the pulley and the diameter looks to large. To answer your question about the generator bracket YES it mounts in the same place as the the original but is offset to the left (drivers side) JMHO

 

Check Speedy Bill's catalog, they list a bracket thet sets the generator more vertical.

 

Pic one on post 7 will need a double sided belt, as per comment on post 6.

 

Thanks, these are stock pumps and old belts I had for mock up and are a little over size. Not sure what you mean about the bracket. I have all four of the currently available mounts, as far as I know, and this is the only one that works. If there are any other choices I would like to know about them..

 

Thanks for the input, If you are referring to the Offy 1096 I have an old Weiand one like it and as I said it will not let the gen clear the carb inlet fitting.

 

The belt will slowly or rapidly develop cracks and separate. Ask me how I know.

 

not to worry, the stock pumps on a flathead have minimal 'drag' and require very little contact with the belt provided the belt is tensioned properly.

 

Thanks for the replies. I have set it up with the gen on the pass side. Can not use the Flamethrower, and it requires some fan pulley mods. Will see how it looks again tomorrow.

 

Did you get the Offenhouser #1096 offset bracket drivers side for the 8 BA ?

 

Yes, but it did not clear the carb, so pie cut the casting and lowered it.
A real pain in the ass. But it works...

 

Looks good lets see the fan installed and a two belt setup.