Serpentine Belt Service Tool

In today’s world of advanced EPDM polymers, serpentine belts are wearing out before visible signs indicate replacement is needed.  Determine when to replace your belt using the GatorGauge™.

The GatorGauge allows you to easily check three different types of wear on a serpentine belt:

RIB WEAR
This is the most difficult wear to detect on a serpentine belt. It can come in the form of side or valley wear. Side wear is typically from misalignment and can be seen on one side only and will repeat on
each groove across the width of the belt.  Valley wear is caused by abrasion of the pulley and debris over time.

RIB CRACKS
Signs of rib cracks are indications that the belt is near retirement. If rib cracks happen prematurely and before the expected life of the belt, it may mean that your drive has excessive heat. This may be caused by a bad bearing on the drive.

BELT THICKNESS
The thickness of the serpentine belt is the easiest visual clue to see if your belt is worn, but it can be deceiving. The grooves of the serpentine belt are worn from abrasion during typical use.