Puddles...

does anyone else get the fan belt slip when they drive through puddles?
i know the engine is in-between the front wheels and i have got the mud flaps/skirt to stop most of it.

It's quite a normal thing for a fan belt to screech when you go through a puddle. It's caused by water getting in the alternator causing it to short out. This puts a resistance to turn on the alternator - hence the screech. It's o/k once the water drains out of the alternator, which is almost immediately. Best to go through water slowly.

i usually do go slow as i know it does it. had to drive through a flooded part the other day.
is there anything i can do to reduce the water going in/on the alternator/fan belt?

No, it's quite normal. The alternator is designed to cope with this, it's full of holes to keep it cool and to drain any water out. Try to avoid water getting in there in the first place if you can, electricity and water = not good !

Unless your crossing a ford or a flood it shouldn't really happen.

Make sure the belt is correctly tensioned, make sure the pullies are clean, undamaged and not covered with excess rubber from previous belts, and make sure the belt is in good condition and not overly worn (cracking or excess wear to the pitch).

Once a belt squeels it will only get worse as the noise is caused by slippage and slippage causes excess belt wear.

Plus is it flipping annoying and embarrassing!

I tension a V belt so that you can achive 90 degrees of twist on the longest span of belt, and its always done me right.

cool. it so far only happens when i hit medium to large puddles. i do try to avoid most of them. with a slender wheel base its easy, but some puddles are too big or some things coming the other way...
when it did it last, i was driving thru a flooded bit of road.. 4-6" deep.

I've drove mine in a flooded section of road about 30 meters long and the deepest section was up to the bottom of the doors and water was coming in. A car was actually stuck and deserted but I though sod it, can't be arsed turning round. Came out nervously laughing but there was water in the footwells of the cab. Good old trusty hijet, I love her dearly. Its squealed a bit and was misfiring for a bit after the puddle, but was fine after 30 seconds or so.

most important things to remember when driving (or riding) through floods:
1) do not let the engine conk out or switch it off when the exhaust is under the water. it sucks water back up and in to the head!
2) you can drive as deep as the air intake is high/low. once the water gets to that.. it gets sucked in the carbs... = bad.
3) drive slowly and if your not sure whats in front of you.. walk it or dont drive through it.

Nahhhh, just drive at it hard and fast, dont let off! Act first, think later.

If you get stuck start thinking of good excuses!

Your far too sensible pagan. Where's your foolish testosterone?

I know of a couple of lads who got their dads new range rover stuck on the beach in north wales, only to watch the tide come in before they managed to get help. eek!

"Your far too sensible pagan. Where's your foolish testosterone?"
>ooooh i reserve all that for when i am on my bike! i can do it quicker and have far more fun.
am out on it tomorrow, got MOT Sat so need to make sure things are ok to pass.. HID headlights (ballast kits) aim maybe a tad off line.. see if the custard doughnuts sway them. lol

I've pussied out of biking for the year now, far too cold, tarmacs a bit dodgy with the leave and dampness too.

Yes i'm a gay lord, 100% sunshine biker all the way.

lol... awwww.. poor sunny biker
its been ok my way. but as i have ridden in winter/wet i know what to avoid etc. MOT tomorrow.. must admit i do think the front tyre will fail... just have to wait and see.