Serpentine...what does that mean?

winkle · Post by **winkle** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:03 pm

Trying to get to grips with this.....no pun intended

Is serpentine the type of belt, amount of Vs in it or the way it snakes round?
Just realised the last one probably answers it

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:10 pm

I think it does

Mike

kev_the_mole · Post by **kev_the_mole** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:01 pm

It refers to the type of drive. A v-belt is not designed to back-bend so all v-belt drives essentially are a simple loop. Complex v-belt drives usually utilise stacked multiple belts which increase the length of the engine. A poly-vee belt can back bend so can drive a much more complex drive train where the belt 'snakes' around peripherals with only one belt.

More on Wiki at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_belt

Cheers,

Ian

ian.stewart · Post by **ian.stewart** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:03 am

Serpintine belt, Somtimes called a Polly V belt, Lots of small Vs rather than one big one, better than a Single V belt as it has more surface area to drive with, used much more on modern cars as it also ha less frictional losses.

Its probably called the serpintine as because of its thinner profile its easier to wrap around a pulley to get even more contact area hence more drive, so its route thru the engine is far less direct than a traditional V belt