When setting belt tension, how do you measure force

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04-10-2001, 07:23 PM

plrod Black 95 SE

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Join Date: Dec 2000

Posts: 901

Manual says to apply 20 lbs. of force and measure the amount of belt travel. How do you know how much force to apply or is there another way to do this?

04-10-2001, 07:33 PM

Daniel B. Martin

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Join Date: Sep 2000

Posts: 4,601

Quote:

Originally posted by plrod Black 95 SE
Manual says to apply 20 lbs. of force and measure the amount of belt travel. How do you know how much force to apply or is there another way to do this?

On page 1-16 Haynes says...
Belt tension must be checked manually, by pushing on the belt at a distance halfway between two pulleys. Push firmly with your thumb and see how much the belt moves (deflects) (see illustration). As a rule of thumb, if the distance from pulley-center to pulley-center is between 7 and 11 inches, the belt should deflect 1/4 inch. If the belt travels between pulleys spaced 12 to 16 inches apart, the belt should deflect 1/4 to 1/2 inch.