Changing Belt in a CH3

[jdotson]

What is involved to change the belt on a CH3 drive? Does it require separating the block from the drive housing or can it be done by removing the guts from the drive? I'm about to help change one and was wondering what kind of work will be involved.

 

[Anonymous]

JD, Airboat Drives has a pretty good tutorial on it on their website. It's not a bad job but the components are kinda heavy, so if you're working on it on the boat you need to have at least two people in on it.

feather

 

[jdotson]

I've read the installation steps on their website and it appears the drive case will have to be separated from the engine in order to get the belt on the lower shaft. I thought it was that easy :banghead:

 

[ShadowGrass Shooter]

Just curious about what led to the changing of the belt? Was it the number of hours you had on it? was there any kind of problem. I have a new CH3 CR with my 572. I hope to get a bunch of time on it before having to even consider changing the belt.

 

[rbjscott]

You do not have to pull the housing. 1. Pull the prop. 2. Pull the upper sheave. 3. Pull the lower sheave by un-bolting the flex plates. Us a wheel puller to remove the lower bearing. Be sure to pull against the shaft not the housing. Clean the exposed shaft before pulling the bearing
The flange bearing is taped at the bolt holes for puller bolts. The bearing locking collar has to be removed also. Not pulling the housing makes the job easer.

 

[jdotson]

Only about 1" of the belt broke from the engine side and then started to split along the belt instead of across the belt. The loose piece of belt starting hitting the drive housing which created enough noise to alert the owner while cruising on plane. The owner was able to trim off the 1" side strip and make it back to Thomas Landing. After removing the strip, the 5" wide belt was about 4" wide. I hope that makes sense as it is a little difficult to explain. Airboat Drive Units people said the unit was 7 years old according to the serial number. The drive was orginally bought on a used boat and has since been put on a new Diamondback. No idea as to how many hours were put on it.

 

[Anonymous]

The job sounds worse than it is, JD. It's just a matter of unbolting some stuff. I'm impressed that the unit didn't leave the man stranded.
I called ABD once to see if they had a recommended time change on a belt, and they said that they had tour boats out with over 2000 hrs. on them.

Look at it as an opportunity to check the mounting bolts for the housing, which might have worked loose by now.

feather

 

[barhopper]

Make sure to get the right belt fot that unit. The wrong belt will not work. Count the splines on the lower shaft and the splines on the upper shaft and divide. This will give you the ratio. Definitelv a two person minimum job.

 

[jdotson]

I tried every which way to change the belt without separating the case from the engine....it could not be done. Removing the case was the way to go and start to finish would have taken about 2 hours but trial and error led to around 4 hours. It was the right belt as it came staight from ABD based on ratio and serial number. It won't be too bad if I ever have to do it again but I would hate the job of installing those units everyday!

 

[Anonymous]

Glad you got it done. What did they charge for the new belt? I'll probably need one for my drive this Summer.
They're heavy rascals, no question about that.

 

[jdotson]

I'm not sure about the cost but I'm thinking it was around $375.00? This was the blackhawk belt and there is another standard belt for about $60.00 less. It is definately a two man job when trying to insert the upper assembly under the new belt.

 

[basketcase0302]

JDotson,

Good price on the belt! The Blackhawk usually goes over $500.00.

Did you take pics of the install for me :lol:

I've read the install literature and definately sounds like chainfall work!

Basketcase

 

[jdotson]

I would like to have taken pictures but there wasn't anyone else available to take them. It was a little nasty with the build up of belt dust, residual grease and oil.