How to Tension a V Belt (& How Not to)

A v belt’s purpose is to transmit energy between two components. What makes a v belt pulley stand out from other types of pulleys, such as a round belt or flat pulley, are the V-shaped grooves of the pulley; these grooves guide the belt and allow it to gain traction.

The number one cause of a power transmission belt failure is improper tensioning. In order to ensure a long and efficient belt operation, you must properly learn how to tension a v belt regularly.

If they are too loose, there is slippage, rapid belt or sheave wear and, ultimately, loss of both energy and productivity. Conversely, if there is too much tension, the excess strain on the belts, bearings and shafts causes premature wear of these components. 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.

Important Note: Never apply belt dressing, as this will damage the belt and cause early failure. Always keep the drive free of foreign material which might cause slippage or damage to the belt and sheave surfaces.

This article comes from ibtinc edit released