Tighten your belt
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• Accurate tensioning of belts assures longer drive performance, lowers maintenance costs and means fewer breakdowns and less frequent replacement. Correct tensioning is particularly important for heavy loaded drives of fans, water pumps, alternators and air-conditioning compressors. Gates Europe, which markets V-belt tension gauge Krikit, offers mechanics tips for inspection of drive components and installation of belts.
1, Inspect all drive components: Pulley grooves When replacing a V-belt, first check whether pulley groove sidewalls are smooth and straight.
Replace worn or damaged pulleys.
Make sure the pulley grooves match the belt.
Pulley alignment If a pulley is "cocked," check if the mounting bracket is broken or bent. If a pulley is offset, it may be the wrong one. Installing the belt Install replacement belt with adjustment in the minimum position. Never pry belts into the pulley grooves with a screwdriver or pull them on the starter.
Make sure the belt rides flush with the top of all pulleys of the drive.
Once the belt is installed, start the engine and run it for 10 to 15 minutes so that the belt seats properly in each pulley groove.
2, Measure tension exactly with Krikit tension gauge. Install a new belt and run the engine until the belt seats the pulley grooves as described. Measure the tension when the belt has run for some minutes. Retension as required, using average tension values as: a Minimum tension for any automotive V-belt should be 22.5kg (501b) b Average belt tension for trucks, buses and larger cars should be 31.5kg (70Ib) c Heavily loaded drives with large fans, water pumps, alternators and air-conditioning units may require belt tensions of 41.5 to 45kg (90-1001b) per belt If the belt cannot be run in as explained, adjust the belt to 9 to I3.5kg tighter than required. After a while, the belt will ad just itself to the grooves and the tension will decrease to the right value. New or heavily loaded drives need higher tension to prevent belt slip and frequent retensioning. If a used belt requires retensioning, measure existing tension and increase it no more than 4.5kg (10lb) at a time till proper tension is obtained. Check with Krikit at every oil change.
If two belts are used on a drive, use the required tension per belt, and after they have run for a couple of minutes, check with Krikit if each has equal tension. When installing new belts, replace both to ensure each one 'carries the same load. Do not make up your own sets of belts, as only Gates matched sets assure identical lengths. Specify matching requirements when ordering belts.
Once you have determined accurate belt tension for a drive, remember to check regularly with the Krikit, says Gates.
Gates Europe Turbo 63