The Mitsubishi Pajero Owners Club®

[onestone]

Someone on the forum suggested spraying the bolts that need releasing when changing belts.  I found it impossible to get my hands down there, point the nozzle at the right place and press the button at the same time and with one hand.  Some of you out there must be magicians/contortionists or you may have already worked out what I did.

I took a length of solid core electrical cable.  Took out one of the three wires, pulled out the solid core and was left with a nice flexible sleeve.  I persuaded the WD40 red nozzle into the sleeve and hey presto, a long flexible nozzle that I could direct to almost anywhere.  If you need to get to somewhere where your hands don't fit, bend the copper wire that you pulled out to the necessary shape and tape the sleeve onto it.

Of course the WD40 will not come out as a spray but can't have everything.

If this has already been written about, moderators feel free to delete.

[RegPat]

Now that is a good tip thanks.
On the subject of WD40 I have just got me truck back from the garage and the mechanic told me to spray some WD40 on the belts, I.E. fan belts, not to much or they will slip.
He said they will last longer and stop any sounds from them.
Has anyone done this ?

[paul_c2]

I hate to be the one to have to tell you, but WD40 is a LUBRICANT so it will cause the belts to more likely slip. Quite why your mechanic advised that - I don't know! Maybe he was pulling your leg?

You can buy this spray on stuff which makes belts grip a little better. Personally I've found that adjusting them to the right tension, does the job.

[rich r]

WD40 is actually pretty good at softening rubber and some plastics, which will make belts grip better- but at the expense of reducing their lifespan.

WD40 is primarily a water dispersing oil (hence the name!), but it's a reasonable lubricant and penetrating oil. It's not a great lubricator though, 3-in-1 is a better bet. Similarly it's not a great penetrating oil either, PlusGas is better for loosening stuck bolts. Being thin, it has a habit of causing dirt and dust to stick, so it can actually make things worse by forming an abrasive gloop that makes things wear out more quickly.

But as an all rounder it's handy stuff when you don't have anything better. I won't be spraying it on belts though.

[zimguy]

A few drops of brake fluid on the pulley of a squeeling belt works wonders.

[rich r]

Same reason - brake fluid causes the rubber to break down a bit and go sticky.

[onestone]

It's interesting to listen to all the suggestions made about slipping belts and the temporary solutions. From other threads I've seen baby powder, water and I think there was something about jam or honey or something similar.

[Bish789]

Get the right tension, rough the pulley up a bit with some emery or wire wool, takes the glaze of the pulley wheel. Sorted.

[Tonka]

Hard soap works, 'Dove' for example  

[assassin]

Do not use WD40 on copper electrical connectors, over time it eats them away.

[idratherbesurfing]

If Ive got a squealing belt, I find the best way to fix it is to tighten it a bit, or replace it  

[JasonE]

WD40 will break down and destroy plastics and rubber  

WD40 on belts is an old 'magic trick' that instantly quites them,
( as is oil , water , spit , wee etc etc etc ) your
mech obviously couldnt get them correctly tensioned.

[REVOGEL]

A tip an old Mechanic told me years ago for loosening siezed nuts [The metal kind. not the fleshy] 50% engine oil and white spirit left on overnight. Seems to work most times and is cheap.