Page 35 - Goodyear2011PTMaintenanceManual

35
INSTALLATION GUIDE
Maintenance
Maintenance
Belt drives are a reliable and effcient means of power transmission.
Since they are essentially trouble-free, they are ignored often and do
not receive the minimal attention they require for the full delivery of
benefts over the course of a long life of use.
Belt drive maintenance is neither complicated nor does it require a
great deal of time or a large variety of special tools. Primarily, good
maintenance requires that you look at and listen to the drive to
discover and correct any problems
What to Look For:
Oil and Grease
Police a drive well. Immediately repair leaky bearings as excess
oil on a bearing will splash on the belts. If you cannot correct
these conditions without sacrifcing adequate lubrication, use
oil-resistant belts as too little lubrication will cause bearing
failure, which may also cause belt failure when drag becomes
excessive.
Dirt
No equipment operates best when it is dirty. Belts are no
exception. Dirt accelerates belt wear and dirt build-up in a V-belt
sheave groove impairs traction.
Added Loads
Check to see that no additional loads have been added since the
original drive was selected.
Belt Guards
Belt guards ensure that large debris doesn’t enter the drive.
Cracking
Reduce V-belt bottom cracking by using larger sheaves and
larger reverse bend idler sheaves. However, tooth cracking on
synchronous belts is an early indicator of tooth shear, and
therefore, the belt should be replaced. See troubleshooting charts
for corrective action.
Belt Dressing
Belt dressing is seldom benefcial to belt drives. This tackiness
actually accelerates the time to failure of V-belts. If V-belts slip
or squeak, identify and correct the problem. Never use belt
dressing on synchronous belts.
Vibration
Excessive vibration should be minimized. This is often due to low
tension or damaged tensile member. In extreme cases, a back side
kiss idler may need to be added in the vibrating span.
Tension
Tension is critical in belt drives. For V-belts the ideal tension is the
lowest tension at which the belt will not slip under peak load
conditions. For synchronous belts, under-tensioning leads to
ratcheting and excessive tooth loading. Adjust tension to the values
shown in the tables provided in this guide. See section on
“Installation” for the type of belt involved for additional information.
Heat
High temperatures cause heat-aging and shorten belt life. Check
frequently belts operating in temperatures above 180 degrees F
and consider special heat-resistant construction if belt life is not
satisfactory.
Belt Turn Over
Turned over V-belts indicate drive misalignment, worn sheaves or
excessive vibration.
Change in Ride Out
Ride out is the position of the top of the V-belt to the outside
diameter of the sheave. A change in ride out over time indicates
uneven belt wear or worn sheaves.
Lateral Vibration
Don’t allow belts to snake.
Belt Wear
Wear on V-belt sidewalls indicates consistent slippage, excessive
dust, or rough sheaves. Tooth wear on synchronous belts is an
indication of improper tooth meshing. See trouble guide for possible
causes and corrections.
Debris
Broken belts or excessive vibration can result from the presence of
foreign material on the belts or in the sheaves or sprockets.
Prevent belt whipping