Pulley belt issues!

[Walrus]

While I'm sorting out the cooling problem (see other post) I noticed my pulley belt is fraying along one edge:

belt.jpg

Its a new belt (only fitted a few weeks ago) - the old one did the same thing. While it seems to hold together the loose bit on the edge is pulling out the High pressure oil sensor lead by smacking it as the pulley goes round - nearly gave my a heart attack on the way back from Wales when it happened a couple of weeks ago!
I also noticed that behind the water pump pulley is these things:

Pulley.JPG

Are they shims? gaskets? or the remains of an older shredded belt? I'm reluctant to pull them out if they are meant to be there!

Any suggestions what is causing the belt to fray, and how I fix it?

Thanks in advance!

[CovKid]

Remnant of a belt. And give those pulley wheels a good going over with a wire brush in the grooves - may help. Trim off the loose bit of belt for now but carry a spare just in case. Might be a faulty belt.

[peasant]

also check that all the pulleys are running true, without wobble

[DevonAid]

From the second picture it appears the belt is sitting proud in the pulley, if this is so perhaps the pulley size or pulley profile problem, causing the belt to ride high and putting pressure on the top edges which may make it strip like you describe. Having said that, it appears to be running too low in the top picture RH pulley - is it definately the right belt and profile for your van/engine?

Also agree with the importance of pulley alignment (visually from the top), a clean off of the working surface of each pulley face (I use wet and dry paper), with belt tension also being important. Too tight will kill bearings and not do the belt any favours, too loose will cause slippage and also belt wear. Check manuals or elsewhere on here for correct tensioning techniques.

One other minor thing, my view is that belts should be installed with the manufacturers writing facing outwards, thereby operating with belt webbing running in the right direction. This is especially important for toothed cambelts, it may also be true for V-belts and wouldn't hurt to adopt this standard.

[Walrus]

Well, I found the issue - the alternator is not sitting square to the engine. Me and a freind suspect the mounting bolts are worn a little - I'm going to his workshop Monday to see if we can straighten it out.