Dayco releases latest technical updates

[caption id="attachment_7459" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Dayco's new inspection tool"][/caption]

Dayco has released its latest set of technical updates for independent garages.

This time Dayco is focusing on how to detect a worn multi-rib belt. The supplier says that generally the obvious signs of wear include cracking, chunking, glazing or splitting on neoprene compound belts.

However the company says that in more modern cars extended-life rubber compound (EPDM) belts can have a service life of around 100,000 miles, and thus any signs of wear are harder to detect.

Dayco says that EPDM belts tend to wear in much the same way as tyres, with material loss being the main cause for a replacement.

Dayco said: “The ‘V’ profiles of the ribs on the belt begin to wear down and start to resemble a ‘U’ and not a ‘V’. As the profile changes, the contact area of the belt on the pulley is reduced and the efficiency of the belt drops, which can lead to slippage and affect the performance of the belt, as well making it very noisy.”

Naturally, Dayco has a tool to sort the problem – its ‘a-WEAR-ness' gauge is able to perform visual checks that helps the technician assess the condition of the belt.