www.iFourWinns.com

I have an 8.1L VP. As I was pulling into the marina from a short cruise (maiden voyage of the year), my power steering went to s&*%. Got her to the dock, raised the engine hatch and noted my belt was was laying in the bottom of the bilge. As I was unsuccessfully trying to determine the proper belt path, I noticed a spring laying in the bottom of the bilge. Uh oh! After further review, my belt tensioner pully was gone. The shaft it rides on was snapped in half at the base of the mounting bracket. It couldn't have happened at a better time. A few minutes earlier and I would have been stranded when traffic was minimal at best.

Does anyone else have any experience with this type of thing happening? I'm looking for a root cause to ensure nothing like this reoccurs.

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP

On both land and sea, those can go out. Just a small inbalance is all it takes and that is usually from the factory. It should not be too hard to change it. I would replace the belt and keep that one for a spare. I am glad it did not leave you stranded.

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1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!

Thanks for the response, JV. I haven't pulled the mounting bracket off the engine block yet, but the general concensus among my auto and marine mechanics is a bearing failure causing excess stress on the shaft. Seems hard for me to imagine enough stress to break a ~1" shaft.

Good advice on the new belt. I've got one on order and will put the current one in my toolbox for an emergency.

New parts should be in by Thursday. Should be ready for water by the weekend, but I doubt I'll go this weekend as too many other activities going on. I'll let you know what I find when I pull the mount off and have all the pieces together.

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP