Tips on Tensioner Usage

• Tensioning that is too tight causes excessive chain, belt, and bearing wear
• Tensioning that is too loose allows belt slippage or chain vibration, causing wear or loss of horsepower
• Idlers should be located on the slack side of the drive
• The use of idlers on the back of V-belts causes reverse bend and can reduce the life of the belt
• However, when inside idlers are used, the arc of contact is reduced and allowance must be made for horsepower loss
• The U.D.T. flanged flat face idler pulley can be run on the inside or outside of belt drives and will produce no additional wear on the sides of V-belts
• Chain idlers should be run on the outside of the chain
• Idler sprockets should have at least 3 teeth engaged with the chain
• Idlers, when used on the outside of the drive, should be located approximately 1/3 of the center distance from the small pulley or sprocket
• Idlers, when used on the inside of the drive, should be located approximately 1/3 of the center distance from large pulley or socket