Pineapple Racing Yoohoo Water Pump Belt

[Max777]

http://www.pineappleracing.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=39

Well, I have to free advertize, but why has no one thought of this before? Rather than a dual alternator pulley, this seems to make a LOT more sense!

[Rotary_Rocket_87]

I am pretty sure that it has been around for a while now. I have heard the term Yoohoo belt before, but never thought to research what it actually was.

[djmtsu]

The only issue I have with the Yoohoo belt is the fact that is it on there so tight, some people have had bearing failure on their water pumps.

I'd stick with either the dual alt pulley, or a side mount alternator, or if you have the money, a Gilmer Drive.

[Max777]

Heck, I'd love to get a nice belt setup myself when I get the money. the one I'm thinking of looks like a belt for a SC, but not...

[Rotary_Rocket_87]

I take it a Gilmer drive is a belt and pulley with the ribs perpendicular to the belt, right?

[Willub and Company]

i have had one on my car forever. just a generic belt though, not pineapple. if you REALLY don't want slip, look into a gilmer setup.

[MaczPayne]

I have a napa belt on my car. It's priced quite well compared to the pineapple yoohoo belt.

[Phoenix7]

I have that belt. Walking it on was a bitch since it's a tight fit.

[My5ABaby]

I just got a double pulley. Easier and better.

[Phoenix7]

Better is subjective though. If your two pullies aren't tightened correctly you'll still see the bearing problem on the Alt AND H2O pump.

The added bonus for me was that the yoohoo belt ensures I can still drive to the autoshop, without overheating the car, IF MY ALTERNATOR BELT BREAKS.

[My5ABaby]

Better is subjective though. If your two pullies aren't tightened correctly you'll still see the bearing problem on the Alt AND H2O pump.

The added bonus for me was that the yoohoo belt ensures I can still drive to the autoshop, without overheating the car, IF MY ALTERNATOR BELT BREAKS.

Mmmmm... I would need 2 belts to break. Unless I'm mistaken, I haven't looked in a while.

[Phoenix7]

even if BOTH don't break you'll still have slippage. The last thing you want is to have your water pump slipping without you knowing it until the needle goes ^^^

[My5ABaby]

even if BOTH don't break you'll still have slippage. The last thing you want is to have your water pump slipping without you knowing it until the needle goes ^^^

The slippage problem is at higher rpm's. Driving to a shop/store shouldn't be a problem.

[Phoenix7]

true, but you're assuming you KNOW the belt is broken. will all the idiot lights come on to tell you ONE belt broke?

[My5ABaby]

true, but you're assuming you KNOW the belt is broken. will all the idiot lights come on to tell you ONE belt broke?

Will they if your yoohoo belt breaks?

[djmtsu]

Very good point.

It doesn't matter how you go about preventing belt slippage, both the dual alt pulley and yoohoo belt work.

A side mount alternator will remove all belt slippage across the water pump pulley since the belt wraps around over 30% (around).

I have had the dual alt pulley on since I did my TII swap, drove it everyday for a year, been to Deals Gap Rotary Rally twice, and never have had any issues.

Unless you are discussing high RPM's over a long period (ie: racing) everyone is arguing a moot point.

[impulsive-RX7]

I have a napa belt on my car. It's priced quite well compared to the pineapple yoohoo belt.

+1. Napa belt part number 3L220 I think.

[My5ABaby]

If a belt breaks, I'd rather have 1 more left turning the pump than none. :p

[Phoenix7]

have you seen the yohoo belt? I dont see how it can break as easily as an ALt belt. I just don't see it breaking anytime soon. I check belts and fluids when I'm filling up so I'll keep an eye on it and keep track of it's condition.

All said and done, I think my method is better.:001_005:

Here is a pic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/madrx7racer/Our%207s/REX/Upgrades/Under%20Construction/DSC02698.jpg

[My5ABaby]

have you seen the yohoo belt? I dont see how it can break as easily as an ALt belt. I just don't see it breaking anytime soon. I check belts and fluids when I'm filling up so I'll keep an eye on it and keep track of it's condition.

All said and done, I think my method is better.:001_005:
I figure it'll break just as easy as an alternator belt. It's spinning at the same speed, has (theoretically) the same stresses on it. If anything, it's longer and has more places to fuck up? :dunno:

[Phoenix7]

it's not longer. It's a short, fat (thick) belt.


Their sales pitch sold me though:

The Pineapple Racing Yoohoo Belt™ is a proven means to avoid a slipping water pump on a Mazda rotary engine without an air pump. The alternator belt alone does not provide enough contact with the water pump, so it tends to slip when properly tensioned. If overtightened to stop the slipping, the belt may break and/or cause damage to the engine from side-loading the end of the eccentric shaft, as well as cause damage to your alternator and water pump bearings.

Dual belt alternator pulley setups are a poor alternative because most nominally correct sized belts vary in actual length, making them impossible to tension equally. So, either one belt is too loose and slips or one is overtightened and eventually breaks. Further, if one belt breaks, it usually takes out the other belt at the same time.

The Yoohoo Belt™ runs from the main pulley to the water pump and back. There is no tensioning adjustment. You just walk the belt onto both pulleys and the tension will be correct. It can be a little loose because there is so much contact area that it will not slip. Also, if the alternator belt happens to break, the water pump is still driven. You can drive a lot farther without an alternator than without a water pump, which can be important in order to reach the next exit or the nearest parking lot.

[My5ABaby]

it's not longer. It's a short, fat (thick) belt.
I meant my belts are longer. I see now it was a bit confusing how I worded it.

Dual belt alternator pulley setups are a poor alternative because most nominally correct sized belts vary in actual length, making them impossible to tension equally. So, either one belt is too loose and slips or one is overtightened and eventually breaks. Further, if one belt breaks, it usually takes out the other belt at the same time.
That's crap.

There is no tensioning adjustment.
Translation: God we hope it fits right because if it doesn't you have no way to adjust it. :p

Although the yoohoo belt isn't Pineapple's, on a side note, I don't trust Pineapple. I haven't dealt with them directly, but I don't think they have good business policies. Their 5/6th sleeve inserts have a "Typical improvement is about 8hp, but results vary" yet they refuse to back that up with dyno's. :squint:

[Phoenix7]

:dunno: only time will tell.

[My5ABaby]

:dunno: only time will tell.

Nope, I'm right and you're wrong. Lol. j/k

For real though, they're probably both good ways to do it.

In other news, I'm thinking of putting my emissions back on and I'm wondering if I can still run the dual alternator pulley. That'd be one long belt... :o15:

[classicauto]

Dual belt alternator pulley setups are a poor alternative because most nominally correct sized belts vary in actual length, making them impossible to tension equally.

Just wanted to address this.

Those running a dual setup and find this problem need to make sure to buy whats known as a match pair of belts. They're cut from the same batch of rubber and thus, are exactly the same size. This is very common for applications like transports that use dual belts, but not so much on these cars so expect that they may need to be ordered in.

[classicauto]

In other news, I'm thinking of putting my emissions back on and I'm wondering if I can still run the dual alternator pulley. That'd be one long belt... :o15:

I don't think you can. The airpump belt will ride where the 2nd belt on the dual pulley will go. You can leave the dual pulley on, but it will have one unused sheath.

[My5ABaby]

Just wanted to address this.

Those running a dual setup and find this problem need to make sure to buy whats known as a match pair of belts. They're cut from the same batch of rubber and thus, are exactly the same size. This is very common for applications like transports that use dual belts, but not so much on these cars so expect that they may need to be ordered in.
I've always just picked and chose from what they have and found two that were very close. :dunno: They're still going good.

I'll probably do your way from now on though.

[My5ABaby]

I don't think you can. The airpump belt will ride where the 2nd belt on the dual pulley will go. You can leave the dual pulley on, but it will have one unused sheath.
Hmmm, I'm having trouble picturing it in my head. Is it possible to still use the 2nd alternator pulley slot? In theory...

[Phoenix7]

Good tip classic. I've never heard of that before.

[Boostmaniac]

Good stuff in here.

[85rx-7gsl-se]

Just wanted to address this.

Those running a dual setup and find this problem need to make sure to buy whats known as a match pair of belts. They're cut from the same batch of rubber and thus, are exactly the same size. This is very common for applications like transports that use dual belts, but not so much on these cars so expect that they may need to be ordered in.

Good to know....My Merkur XR4Ti had a dual belt setup from the factory and finding two belts that were the same length and would both tighten up correctly was a pain in the ass :cuss:

[MaczPayne]

Hmmm, I'm having trouble picturing it in my head. Is it possible to still use the 2nd alternator pulley slot? In theory...

You'll see why once you reinstall the air pump. The belt going to it will ride on the "other" side of the water pump pulley as opposed to the alternator belt.

GuitarJunkie28 used to sell serpentine conversion kits for our cars. There may be a few sets in circulation, but they haven't been made ever since he passed away.

And yeah, NAPA part 3L220 is the "yoohoo" belt.

[Iox106]

Glimer drive kit for an FC.

$300+

http://www.raceonly.com.au/product_info.php?currency=USD&cPath=55&products_id=121&osCsid=462f1b46c43c8588fd2ed819994cc462

[My5ABaby]

No offense to Gilmer, but are those really that expensive to make? Seems like they have a monopoly. :D

[Iox106]

$316 for 3 aftermarket pulleys and a belt isnt that bad most underdrive pulley kits are the same or more. I paid for $200 for one pulley on my Z.

[SPiN Racing]

On the subject of the Dual belts.. both the same.. and the one smaller one...

Racers have been doing both for a long time. Some go with a short belt.. some with two long ones.

I personally dont like the PITA of putting on a smaller belt, so I always went with the longer belts.

HOWEVER

High RPM with a stock belt, on a ported 10K+ motor=belt flying off.

SO I always get my belts from the local store, but in a wider width. I think the stock is like 12MM or something. 15? I cant remember, but I ask for the stock belt, and get the number and then up-size on the width.
I believe its a 17MM wide belt.

NOW. with dual belts.. One will be slightly longer. Realistically its almost impossible to get the exact length.

SO what I do then is put them on, TIGHT.
Drive the car around town a little.. put a half hour on it.
Then open the hood, blow off all the dust from the belts seating, and then re-tighten a little.
About 3 or 4 days later, blow the dust off, and then check tightness.
The belts will wear a lot in the first week, as they seat in the groove.

After that they will last for YEARS of high RPM abuse.

(I need to get a sig configured, and my avatard)

[Boostmaniac]

$316 for 3 aftermarket pulleys and a belt isnt that bad most underdrive pulley kits are the same or more. I paid for $200 for one pulley on my Z.

But are those under drive pulleys or stock size?

If they are under drive pulleys that might be a hella steal.

[Boostmaniac]

And yeah, NAPA part 3L220 is the "yoohoo" belt.

I heart you sir.

[Boostmaniac]

I am buying one of these today. I hope they have one in stock.

[Boostmaniac]

Bought one. I am gonna put it on and try to get some pics. If it turns out to be really hard then I'll do a write up on it.

[My5ABaby]

It's pretty simple and straight forward, but a write up is never bad. :D