How to measure a belt?

[Hollytree_Technical]

Hi all

Not sure if this is the right place to put it but here goes.

I went to a washing machine the other day that had kicked the belt, normally its a one off thing and you put it back on and away it goes again, however this one kept kicking when under load but I could not see anything wrong with it, I had to order a belt in to try at which put there was a clear considerable difference in size between the new and old belts.

I took a guess and measured the old belt and found that its circumference was still under what was stated on it yet compared to a new belt it was larger than it should have been.

My question is this – is there any way that we can measure a belt to check for certain whether it is in spec with what is printed on it?

Thank you

Jem

[Martin]

Re: How to measure a belt?

Was it a Mael/El (stretch ) belt or conventional type? Can you give us make/model of machine in question?

Qualtex produce a great guide to various types of belts including manufacture sizes v’s equivalents and reference codes stamped on them anyway.

HTH? 🙂

[Hollytree_Technical]

Re: How to measure a belt?

The machine was a Ariston AWD12 which was fitted with a 1046 H8 Belt.

I shall have to try and find the Qualtex guide.

Thank you

Jem

[Martin]

Re: Re: How to measure a belt?

Hollytree_Technical wrote:The machine was a Ariston AWD12 which was fitted with a 1046 H8 Belt.

That’s a stretch belt hence the extreme variance in diameter between old and new belts. As you are aware I’m sure, if the motor has a fixed mounting with no adjustment then it has a stretch belt fitted.

An interesting fact about stretch belts I learnt a few years back is that they are electrically conductive. Very odd being as you would assume rubber not to conduct electricity. But in fact they are not made from rubber at all….not idea what mind you but hey! 🙂

[Hollytree_Technical]

Re: How to measure a belt?

I took a guess that it was a stretch belt but the old one felt OK when I put it on and I couldn’t really feel any slack hence why I wondered whether there was a way of measuring whether the belt was good or not.

I had heard that some belts were conductive though I have never got round to testing it.

Another random thought – is there a standard tension for belts?

Jem

[iadom]

How to measure a belt?

If ever I go to a stretchy belt that has come off but has perfect bearings and motor fixings I always put a new belt on, if not it will come off again in no time at all. The difference between old and new belts is quite considerable.

Jim.

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[Martin]

Re: How to measure a belt?

Hollytree_Technical wrote:Another random thought – is there a standard tension for belts?

Conventional polyvee belts should be set up with 1cm of movement in each direction. MAEL/EL belts are stretch anyway so they should always be very tight with little sideways movement. Stretch belts should be tight to fit on the drum pulley and appear noticeably shorter than its circumference as you refit it.

As Jim says, any stretch belt that derails for no apparent reason = always replace it.:wink:

[spanner51]

Re: How to measure a belt?

Hollytree_Technical wrote:
My question is this – is there any way that we can measure a belt to check for certain whether it is in spec with what is printed on it?

Years ago I used to measure belts with something like this http://www.texrope.com/en/products/tools/743.aspx

But with stretchy belts, I just fit a new one

Graham

[leavemetogetonwithit]

Re: How to measure a belt?

I’ve sometimes found those Aristons with the tiny drum pulley will throw their belts for, “no good reason.” I’ve never had a callback after re-fitting old belt. My guess is the reason is often an unbalanced load.
Or it could be that they don’t call me back because they come to their senses and go out and get a Bosch ❓ .
I thought a conductive belt is like the anti-static thing trailing off a car. Just got some metal mixed in with the rubber to make it semi-conductive?
Mike.

[AMS]

Re: How to measure a belt?

[

leavemetogetonwithit wrote:I thought a conductive belt is like the anti-static thing trailing off a car. Just got some metal mixed in with the rubber to make it semi-conductive?

And aircraft tyres so that they discharge the static build-up on landing.

[Martin]

How to measure a belt?

leavemetogetonwithit wrote:My guess is the reason is often an unbalanced load.
Or it could be that they don’t call me back because they come to their senses and go out and get a Bosch ❓

Unbalanced load coupled with a tired and over stretched belt. If it comes off once because of ‘OOB’ you can be sure it will do it again unless you change the belt. And you’re right, buy a Bosch as they never suffer the problem anyway!

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[Hollytree_Technical]

Re: How to measure a belt?

Sounds like I have been lucky then as I have had a 99{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} success rate with just refitting the belt so this was the first one for a while that I had had to replace (don’t seem to need washer belts that often down here so rarely have them stocked) – It was only when I was replacing this one that I wondered if there was a simple trick to tell if they were gone or not but it doesn’t seem like.

Thanks all

Jem

[Author]

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