New belt cost?

[Olga]

Hi, anybody know roughly how much I should be charged for replacing the drive belts on a variomatic? And where the best place round Stockport would be to have it done? ... or would anybody on here round Stockport / Manchester do it for a fee? It is 'bouncing' when moving off and when slowing down... I have been told this will probably be loose belts...

[macplaxton]

Don't forget that the initial take up of drive from the engine is via the automatic clutch, so heavy application of the accelerator will cause fast engagement of the clutch and jerkiness. Slack belts make noises.

Anyway, changing belts is easy with the right tools. I'd say it would take about an hour to remove, fit and adjust a set of belts. So whatever an hour of labour costs these days.

Now you going to ask how much the actual belts are, aren't you? Grab a cup of sweet tea and be seated first...

[trabitom99]

They may not need changing yet. There's a pic in mac's post as to how much "cracking" is OK before they need doing.

IIRC they're around 200 Euros from Volvo, less from Danny at dafhobby.nl but still not cheap.

Try posting on one of the DAF forums, maybe there's someone in your area who can take a quick peek at them for you?

Tom

[macplaxton]

A lurker member here bagged a Haynes manual and a new pair of Roulunds belts for a winning bid of £5.05.

I've had a pair of Roulunds belts for £50 a while ago.

I've heard Danny doing them for around €150, but you have to factor in p&p and rubbish euro exchange rate.

Last quote (about 6 weeks ago) I had from my Irish Volvo dealer was €287.63

The Daf Club Nederland had them on offer recently (genuine Volvo) for €171.00

[Olga]

Oh lordy! i'll have alook online - would new old stock belts be ok off ebay do you think?

I'll put up a general post on here regarding anybody in Stockport, and join the DAF site as well...

To be honest the jerkyness isn't that bad at all... little kangaroo hops I suppose you'd call 'em...

Right, off I go to try and find the daf site..

Thanks again everybody!

[Olga]

Oh, and macplaxton, do you think the jerkiness maybe just my driving technique then, or maybe the clutch?

[macplaxton]

Oh lordy! i'll have alook online - would new old stock belts be ok off ebay do you think?

If they're the correct ones, not unknown for them to be listed incorrectly.

little kangaroo hops I suppose you'd call 'em...

Oh, and macplaxton, do you think the jerkiness maybe just my driving technique then, or maybe the clutch?

Either / Or.
Loose belts to me sound sqwarky when they slip. You also get vibrations at certain speeds. The car will also sound like it's in a lower gear than it should be (although if you have never had a CVT, it'll all sound odd)

Clutches last for aeons if driven carefully and periodically adjusted. If a spanner monkey revs it loads in "P" then it'll be toast very quickly. DO NOT REV ENGINE IN "P".

If you haven't already studied it, study the CVT handbook. HERE

[Olga]

It always sounds like it's in a lower gear... until I let go of the gas a little... then it's okay!

I think a specialist is in order - unless a Stockport resident turns up!

[Olga]

Oh, and there is vibration at low speed and over about 60 - though that could be the balance out on the wheels I suppose.

[trabitom99]

It always sounds like it's in a lower gear... until I let go of the gas a little... then it's okay!

That sounds perfectly normal for a CVT. Slightly higher revs then you'd normally expect while accelerating is normal, although the engine speed should drop when you reduce the pedal pressure and cruise at a steady speed.

To be honest the jerkyness isn't that bad at all... little kangaroo hops I suppose you'd call 'em...

... and that sounds normal too. It takes a bit of practice to set off smoothly with a vario. When setting off, be gentle with the accelerator until you notice the clutch "bite"slightly, then push it a little more, and once the clutch is fully connected you can floor it, if you like.

The revs shouldn't get too high however, when the clutch is "biting" while setting off (not above 2000rpm IIRC). If they're higher than that, the clutch will need adjusting (re-shimming).

Cheers

Tom

[Olga]

Hmnn... might just change all the consumables, distributor, ht leads etc... and then try and get used to it before shelling out for mechanics and what not... I wish I could have a go of another variomatic to see how that compares to mine!