How much tension should a drive belt have?

How much tension should a drive belt have?

Hold the belt between finger and thumb at this point and move it from side to side. See how much it deflects at the centre of the run. If it moves more than 1/2 in. (13 mm) it is too slack – any less movement and it is too tight.

How much tension should a power steering belt have?

The car handbook should give the correct amount of deflection. If not, 3/8 in. (10 mm) is about right. Compare your measurement with the deflection figure given in the handbook, and adjust the belt accordingly.

How do you determine the proper tension on a V belt?

The proper tension is the lowest tension at which the belt won’t slip or squeal under peak load. However, there is still a wide range of tension between these two extremes in which a drive will operate sufficiently. The primary goal of learning how to tension a V-belt is to find this happy tension medium.

Can a drive belt be too tight?

If a belt is too tight in a system, it can add stress to your bearings. The added stress to bearings can result into over amperage of your motor and potential motor failure. When a belt is too loose: When a belt sits loose on a pulley, the belt can slip while in motion and cause extra friction.

What can I use instead of a belt tensioner tool?

One then simply needs a long enough open end wrench (or spanner, if you prefer) and a jack. Simply jack the tensioner up until you can remove the belt.

Can you over tighten a tensioner pulley?

A belt shouldn’t be over-tightened. Any bearing that the belt rotates on can be burned out by an over-tightened belt. A pulley bearing can be ruined by an over-tightened timing belt.

Can you over tighten a pulley?

When should I replace my motorcycle belt?

The belt is usually checked with regular service intervals at your motorcycle service center. Some brands recommend changing the drive belt every 2 years, or every 10,000 kilometers or so, some every 20,000 kilometers, while others can be as long as 100,000 kilometers.

What happens if your belts are too tight?

Can you over tighten a drive belt?

An over-tightened belt can burn out any bearing that the belt rotates on, including alternator, power steering pump, A/C compressor, idler pulleys, etc. An over-tightened timing belt can ruin any pulley bearing it is connected with.

How much slack should a serpentine belt have?

Pinch that point between your index finger and thumb and move it back and forth. The belt should have about a half an inch of play when at the appropriate tightness. If there is less than a half an inch, the belt will need to be loosened, if there is more, it will need to be tightened.