1.
INSPECT SHEAVES
Use a stiff brush to remove rust and dirt. Use a soft cloth to wipe off oil and grease.
Select the proper sheave groove gauge and template for the sheave diameter.
Insert the gauge in the groove and look for voids that indicate dishing or other
uneven and abnormal wear.
2.
CHECK ALIGNMENT
Proper alignment is essential for long V-belt life. Check belt alignment whenever
you maintain or replace belts or whenever you remove or install sheaves. Limit
misalignment to 1/2 degree or approximately 1/10 inch per foot of center distance.
The illustration above shows the correct way to check alignment between two
sheaves with a straight edge. Check both front and back alignment. Straight edge
should touch sheaves at the four points indicated.
Installation and Maintenance Best Practices
3.
IDENTIFY CORRECT BELT
Always select belts to match sheave grooves. Use a sheave groove gauge to determine the proper belt
cross section. Use a belt gauge to verify the old belt cross section when belt identification is no longer
legible.
4.
MATCHING BELTS
When using multiple grooved sheaves, be sure that all of the belts are the same brand. Always replace
complete sets of V-belts even if only one is worn or damaged.
5.
INSTALLING BELTS
After you correctly install and align the sheaves, you can install
the belts. Always move the drive unit so you can easily slip the
belts into the grooves without force. Never force belts into a
sheave with a tool such as a screwdriver or a wedge. Doing so
may rupture the envelope fabric or break the cords.
6.
TENSION
Proper tension is essential for maximum belt life and efficiency.
Improper belt tension is the primary cause of premature belt
failure and increased costs. Under-tensioned belts lead to
slippage, overheating, rollover and noise, all of which lead to
higher maintenance costs and inefficient transmission of power.
Also, over-tensioning belts leads to premature wear, along with
bearing, shaft and sheave problems. The result is more frequent
replacement of drive components and costly downtime.
ENERGY SAVING PRODUCTS
SilentSync® Drives
Achieve 98% drive
efficiency with SilentSync
drives. Benefits include
energy savings, longer
belt life and reduced
maintenance costs.
TensionRite™ Belt
Frequency Meter
Using advanced optical
technology, meter provides
a simple, repeatable, and
reliable method for
tensioning all belt types.
Laser Alignment Tool
Quickly align drive
components to improve
efficiency an reduce
maintenance costs.