Industrial Power Transmission Products - Bando USA

V-Belt Installation
Proper installation techniques will assure that you get full service life and minimum downtime from your belt
drives.
1. Turn machine OFF and lock out power source. 5. Install new belts.
2. Remove belt guard, loosen motor mounts, and short-
Loosen the drive take up and place the new belts on
en center distance between sheaves. Remove old
the sheaves. Press the belts with your hand to posi-
belts.
tion the slack of each belt on the same side of the
drive. If the slack is on different sides, start up loads
can break belt tensile cords.
Do not pry or force belts on the sheave. This can
break the load carrying tensile “muscle” of the belt,
and the belts will break or turn over shortly after
installation.
Take up slack until the belts fit snugly.
3. Inspect, repair, or replace drive components.
Clean oil, grease, and debris from sheaves; remove
rust with a wire brush.
Inspect and replace damaged sheaves.
Get your money’s worth from a new set of belts by
checking and replacing worn or damaged sheaves. In
the long run, replacement sheave cost will more than
be recovered in increased belt life, reduced downtime,
and lower maintenance expense. Check the following:
a)Worn groove sidewalls, “Dishing” should not exceed
1/32" for individual belts. With a Combo belt, dishing
should not exceed 1/64". When a Combo belt rides
too low in worn sheave grooves, the tie band can be
cut by the flanges between the grooves.
b)Shiny sheave groove bottoms. This is a sure sign that
the belt has bottomed out. The resulting slippage
shortens belt life.
c) Wobbling and/or damaged sheaves. Generally
caused by improper sheave or bushing installation,
wobbling and/or damaged sheaves can unbalance a
drive, wear out belts rapidly, and damage bearings.
Check and repair worn bearings and bent shafts.
4. Select replacement belts.
Replace all belts on a drive with a new matched set
from one manufacturer.
a)Do not mix old and new belts on a drive. A new belt
will ride higher in the sheave groove and operate at a
higher tension than an old belt. Running them together
will damage the new belt so it cannot carry its
share of the load.
b)Do not mix belts from different manufacturers.
Because dimensions and constructions will vary, running
such “mis-matched” belts will not give full service
life.
c) Replace with correct type and cross section belt.
Match “A” section belts with “A” sheave grooves, “B”
to “B”, etc. Do not use “B” section belts in “5V”
sheaves, or vice versa. Never replace “A” or “B” belts
with “4L” or “5L” fractional horsepower belts.
Remember that dimensionally similar belts can have
very different horsepower ratings.
132
Dishing
Worn Groove Sidewalls
6. Check sheave alignment.
Place a straightedge or taut string across sheave
faces to correct misalignment.
Check parallel position of shafts and correct alignment
of grooves.
Note: Mount sheaves as close to bearings as possible.
7. Tension belts. (See note below.)
Ideal tension for a V-belt drive is the lowest tension at
which a belt will not slip under peak load.
Tension belts, replace belt guard, run the drive for 15
minutes, and apply full load. Retighten slipping or
squealing belts.
Retension after 24 to 48 hours, when belts will be
completely seated in grooves.
Do not use belt dressing. If the belt slips, tighten
and/or check for worn sheave grooves.
Note: Store belts in a cool, dry place out of direct
sunlight.
Types of sheave and shaft misalignment
Horizontal Angular
Vertical Angular
Parallel
Refer to page 133 for proper tensioning, values and
methods.
Refer to page 39 for tensioning and alignment tools.
To find an authorized BANDO distributor, go to www.bandousa.com or call 1-800-829-6612