2003 350 mag serp belt shredding

[homelite]

Boat had 60 hrs when I purchased. Had a NAPA (25-061066) belt which surprised me...... Anyhow, maybe I see why now. I am seeing "belt chips" all over the engine area. I installed a new NAPA belt and it's happening in 5 hrs. It's going to fail.

Any TSB's I should know about? I imagine mine is not the only one doing this. I also imagine it was a problem since new as the belt was replaced within 60 hours.

My s/n is
Engine OM630863

I can say I noticed the seawater pump pulley and the crank pulley seem to wobble a bit (seawater a little worse). Shaft has no play though.

Please help so I know if this is common and what to order and replace so I don't get stuck out on the water!

Thanks,

 

[Bondo]

Re: 2003 350 mag serp belt shredding

Boat had 60 hrs when I purchased. Had a NAPA (25-061066) belt which surprised me...... Anyhow, maybe I see why now. I am seeing "belt chips" all over the engine area. I installed a new NAPA belt and it's happening in 5 hrs. It's going to fail.

Any TSB's I should know about? I imagine mine is not the only one doing this. I also imagine it was a problem since new as the belt was replaced within 60 hours.

My s/n is
Engine OM630863

I can say I noticed the seawater pump pulley and the crank pulley seem to wobble a bit (seawater a little worse). Shaft has no play though.

Please help so I know if this is common and what to order and replace so I don't get stuck out on the water!

Thanks,

Nope,... It ain't common,... The usual suspects are mis-aligned pulleys, or Rusted pulleys...

Maybe the bearings in the raw water pump are goin' out...

 

[muc]

Re: 2003 350 mag serp belt shredding

MerCruiser has a service bulletin 2003-04 that deals with belt shredding.
It was published for inboard models but it does give good info on what to look for.
You want the pulleys to be parallel with each other and within 1/16” of the same plane.
Use washers to shim the mounting brackets and pay closer attention to where the belt goes onto the pulley than where it leaves the pulley.
Some wobble is normal.
Suggest that you carry spare belt and 5/8” and 5/16” wrenches that you need to change a belt.