Todd S. Malicoate wrote:Interesting point about the PBH belts being available at the original stock widths, but I'll have to correct your terminology in calling them NAPA's "premium" belts...those PBH belts are the "inexpensive foreign made option" to the NBH line (25- numbers made by Gates). Usually, the PBH belts are around 1/2 the cost of the corresponding NBH number.
I didn't realize that. Maybe you can confirm my understanding that the German company that makes the PBH belts is the OEM supplier for several of the German manufacturers including Mercedes.
In any case, the 13-series belts (in the SAE system) were supposed to be 3/8" wide, and the 15-series belts 7/16" wide. Gates makes both in 10mm, which is in between but closer to 3/8", but numbers them both ways. The 15-series PBH belts are 11mm wide. The narrower belts work in most applications (and, let's face it, only older cars use V-belts these days), but on our 35-year-old motorhome, the narrower belts bottom out in the pulleys and start slipping with only slight wear, even if tightened to middle C.
That's the sort of thing we run into all the time. I find myself ordered from AC-Direct. The AC-branded stuff is no longer made in an AC factory, but it usually at least meets their spec. Most of the parts stores can order it, too, but if I have to wait three days anyway, I might as well order it myself and have it delivered to the house. The value added by parts stores isn't the ability to order, it's the ability to do research and then have parts in stock.
But try to find a true balanced-flow Robertshaw thermostat (and not the Mr. Gasket version with the increased bypass) in any modern parts store.
Dan, I'm glad you got it figured out. I have a vacuum solenoid valve on my '95 Toyota that should cost $25, but Toyota wants $450 for it, so I have to engage the front axle manually under the hood until I find a used one. Forget trying to get even the dealership to know which part I mean--it took a week of research to come up with the proper part number. I think Toyota makes them to order, by hand.
Rick "usually forced to respond '1975 Olds Toronado' when asked for make, model and year when hunting a part for a '73 GMC motorhome" Denney
The extra $100 bucks or so is a very small price for me to pay to not to have to 'mess with it'.