What happens if a belt is too tight on a pulley?
There are two scenarios for improper belt tensioning: too tight and too loose. 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 sits loose on a pulley, the belt can slip while in motion and cause extra friction.
How does improper belt tension affect your belt drive?
When a belt sits loose on a pulley, the belt can slip while in motion and cause extra friction. The additional friction can result in a buildup of heat on the belt and the pulley.
What do you need to know about a belt tensioner?
The belt tensioner’s first job is to maintain the proper tension on the serpentine belt. That’s easy enough, you just build a tensioning device with a strong enough spring to keep the belt at the correct tension. The tensioner also has to compensate for belt wear and stretch.
What should I do if my belt is too tight?
Mishandling of belts can also lead to premature belt failure. Here are a few things to keep in mind when using belts: Belts should never be forced onto pulleys. If the belt is too tight to put on the drive system, remove one of the pulleys and then install the belt. When working with belts, never twist, bend or crimp the belts.
When to check the alignment of pulleys after tensioning?
Always check the alignment of pulleys after tensioning the belt because sometimes during tensioning, the pulleys can move. To check the alignment of pulleys, you can use a laser alignment tool or a machine straight edge. Mishandling of belts can also lead to premature belt failure. Here are a few things to keep in mind when using belts:
Why does my serpentine belt keep slipping on pulleys?
Serpentine belts stretch with age and use, but the tensioner is spring-loaded to keep the belt tight on the pulleys. If a belt starts slipping, the tensioner should always be checked to see if it is functioning properly.
How to know if your belt tensioner is bad?
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Belt Tensioner 1 Squeaking or Grinding Noise. 2 Unusual Belt Wear. 3 Failure of the Belt-driven Accessories to Operate. 4 Bleeding Rust and Presence of Cracks. 5 Excessive Wear of Pulley Bearing. 6 Visible Signs of Pulley Wear. 7 Excessive Sideward Movement of the Tensioner Arm. 8 Loss of Tensioner Spring Force.
What happens if your drive belt is too tight?
Too tight of a belt can prematurely wear the pulleys, the belt and puts excess strain in the inner primary support bearing, and can cause it to fail. Most bikes have a black plastic dibris deflector over the belt. That deflector has a small window in it, below the lower belt line, with “lines” on it.