HOW TO MAKE YOUR V-BELTS LAST LONGER?

- in World News
2515
Comments Off on HOW TO MAKE YOUR V-BELTS LAST LONGER?

If you don’t maintain your belt drive properly, it can lead to several problems. Pulley misalignment or high or low voltage are a few indicators that indicate poor maintenance of your belt drive. It is wise to conduct a regular inspection to ensure proper alignment, correct tension, and quick identification of abnormal wear signs. Once you can identify such wear signs, you would be able to maintain your V-belt performance and enhance its transmission. Sometimes, if the belt drive is not installed correctly can lead to premature failure. Hence, if you want to extend your belt’s shelf life, make sure to follow the installation process of the belt and pulley correctly. Storage and mishandling of belts can reduce the life of your V-belt. Proper sheave alignment is another step to make your belt last for a long time. There are a few dos and don’ts to maximize the life of your V-belt. Here are some simple ways to make your V-belts last longer and that can prevent breakdown and unwanted stoppage

NEVER ROLL BELTS ON

Most of the time, people tend to roll the belts in a hurry without loosening the motor. This is very unsafe and can often lead to a hard load on the bearing. It may also damage the belt as well as the sheave.

SIZE AND SHEAVE GROOVES MATTERS

Different V-Belts come in different shape sizes and profiles. It is your responsibility to buy a V-belt that matches your sheave grooves. Sheave wear is often overlooked as most people believe that a rubber belt could never wear out a cast iron or steel sheave. However they can, you must use a groove measuring tool to check your sheave-groove(s).

PROPER SHEAVE ALIGNMENT AND BELT TENSION

To maintain your sheave alignment, use laser tools as it checks both horizontal offset misalignment and vertical and horizontal angular misalignment. With a straightedge or string, it is difficult to detect misalignment. Furthermore, if you want your V-belt to last longer, make sure that it has proper belt tension. Too little tension can create noise and excessive heat, while too much tension can create a band breakage. If the tension is not balanced, it may lead to a reduction of the belt’s life.

ASSURE VENTILATION AND RE-CHECK BELT TENSION

V-belts are capable of producing excessive heat even in their normal operation. It is essential to make sure that your belt guarding is ventilated so that heat can dissipate easily. Further, when the belt matches the sheave-groove, try to stretch it and heat it up. This will cause the belt tension to normally change. This quick re-check and re-tightening can help you increase your belt’s life. If you are using a re-tensioned belt, use a laser tool to maintain the horizontal angular alignment. If followed correctly, the tips above can help you make a drastic difference in your V-belts life. It will not only increase its longevity but will also save you from countless hours of labor and unnecessary delay. One last piece of advice would be to check your belt’s cleanliness, keep it away from various oil and dirt so that there is no operational problem with your belt.

You may also like

Functional Freeze: Battling Foggy Brain and Low Energy

Functional Freeze is a term that encapsulates a