Belt tension on timberwolf chipper - which tension gauge tool to buy?

[Cordata]

Hi,

 

I want to set belt tension on my chipper and have never done this before.

 

I've watched a few videos on youtube on using a belt tensioning gauge tool, and I see they have O-rings and are rated for a certain force.. for example on amazon I found a tool which says it is 10lbs (~4.5 kg).

 

My manual has instructions showing how to go about tensioning, shown in the attached pic. I get the deflection should be set to 2mm as shown in the manual.

 

However there is a force range stated in the manual for a new belt (3.75 - 4.01 kg) and a used belt (3.21 - 3.47 kg).

 

So to get a deflection of 2mm, over the lifetime of the belt I need to apply a varying force to set that.. so can you get tools which let you set the force you apply?

 

 

[htb]

use your thumb, that's pretty accurate.

[aspenarb]

New belts need to be ran for a while and brought up to temperature to allow them to bed in before thinking about final tensioning, I always give them half an hour at full revs then allow to cool and re-tension. Touched on this multi belt malarkey on machines before, what's more important is to find a supplier that can supply matched sets of belts all the same length. Off the shelf belts from various batches from the same manufacturer can vary + or- 3mm in length which can and does throw any attempt at proper belt tensioning down the pan, belts from the same batch will all be exactly the same length. I have tamed our local belt supplier and he understands.

 

Bob. 

[maybelateron]

17 minutes ago, aspenarb said:

Touched on this multi belt malarkey on machines before, what's more important is to find a supplier that can supply matched sets of belts all the same length. Off the shelf belts from various batches from the same manufacturer can vary + or- 3mm in length which can and does throw any attempt at proper belt tensioning down the pan, belts from the same batch will all be exactly the same length.

I've never consciously processed that thought before, but it certainly explains some belt tensioning issues I have occasionally had over the years. I find your postings are often helpful on mechanical issues, you clearly know your stuff very well👍

[Peter 1955]

19 minutes ago, aspenarb said:

 Touched on this multi belt malarkey on machines before, what's more important is to find a supplier that can supply matched sets of belts all the same length. Off the shelf belts from various batches from the same manufacturer can vary + or- 3mm in length which can and does throw any attempt at proper belt tensioning down the pan, belts from the same batch will all be exactly the same length. 

 

Bob. 

When I had to deal with lots of high powered multiple belt drive gear on the farm, getting matched belts was of paramount importance. You knew disaster was on the horizon for the drying fan when most of the belts were correctly tensioned, one was slack, and one was flapping about! 

[Sviatoslav Tulin]

Constantly dealing with multibelt mashines :matching set is paramount ,for years checking tension simple way take belt with tree fingers and try to turne it 90 degree you should nearly do that let’s say 80 degree,that tension is fine ,it is not very scientific but was done for generations in farm multibelt systems,and this method never let me down. New belts must be checked after couple of hours sometimes need to be adjusted , don’t forget pulleys can wear down as well ,and than must be replaced.

[PeteB]

Never had to use a belt tension device, Mark 1 Eyeball and V1 Index Finger have proved more than adequate since the early 80's and that was on 30 year old kit too!