Now there’s always a spare fan belt under the seat
Knowing how to change a fan belt on a Toyota Landcruiser wasn’t something Ron Johnson had really put his mind to, let alone worry about.

In October 2004 Ron had taken up the position of BCA Field Staff member at Kununurra, in the far north of Western Australia.

Six months later, when the need for a new fan belt arose, Ron discovered that fan belt changing in a Cruiser wasn’t as simple as it was in his Toyota sedan.

During a conversation with BCA Nomad, Frank Norton, from Tamworth in NSW, it turned out that the reason Ron had so much trouble fitting the spare belt from the toolbox was that it was a “generic” brand purchased by the former owner of the vehicle and it was never ever going to fit, no matter how hard he tried.

Frank immediately diagnosed the problem.

Fortunately, Frank carries more spare parts than an auto wrecker does, and he set about showing Ron the correct way to change a belt in a Landcruiser.
Other names for a fan belt include vee belt, compressor belt, and alternator belt.

Frank said that the motorist who is considering a trip around Australia, and who is not technically minded, should consider a short TAFE course, which would pay dividends.

“Some modern-day vehicles can have up to three vee belts, and carrying a spare of each type is essential”, he said.

“A standard tool kit may not always have the necessary equipment to change a vee belt. Correct tools, such as socket and wrench, extensions, sockets, and an allen key or hex bit, may be important items in your tool kit”.
A month or so after Ron’s short training course, he had the need to drive to a meeting at Broome, ‘just a short 1020km drive’ down the Great Northern Highway.

“Somewhere on the way home, a fan belt decided to retire, but fortunately I had a spare, knew what to do, and I was on my way again in a very short time, thanks to Frank.”

Barry Blair
More information on BCA Nomads may be found at: http://www.bushchurchaid.com.au/Nomads/nomads_brochure.pdf

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