Hey guys, well shit, my plan kinda changed on me while getting the mechanical fan to work, seams I need to run the 3 blower belts around the outside of the idler pulley, so Im thinking with no more tension probably gonna be needed to keep these belts from slipping, Im thinking it may, just may be ok to run these belts around the outside. Belt walking into each other maybe, wear on the inside of the belts, maybe.. Thoughts .. Thanks ...
You need to have a V belt idler. Bought or made there’s no way you’re going to successfully run multiple belts without it.
Yeah, I don't think that's gonna work. I believe you're gonna need a grooved pulley if you have to run them that way.
If you have to do it that way, use a shorter belt and have the tensioner on the outside of the V belt.
The idler pulley is basically solid aluminum that is bored in the middle for the bearings and bolt. Why not buy a new piece of aluminum stock and cut v slots in it,,,,then bore the middle for the bearings to ride ? Not much of a problem really. Tommy
They do make one wide belt with 3 V groves in it also . That can be used in place of 3 belts . But to answer your question , your tensioner is for the back “ flat” side of the belt . It will self destruct any other way .
Really? Think about this for a sec.. I need open heart surgery, can ya help? Just a saw and a scalpel , needle and a thread. Not that hard really.
Yeah really. This idler is a simple piece of aluminum. Seriously. Now open heart surgery is completely different and I would never joke about that. One in every crowd. Tommy
Only difference between a surgeon and a mechanic is the surgeon has to wash his hands after he goes to the bathroom.
should be fairly straight forward for someone with a lathe, might even be a good "get your feet wet on a lathe" project if you know someone with a lathe and want to learn
Do not run the idler on the outside of the toothed belts, they don’t like being bent backwards, they shed teeth . Ask us how we know....... Looks like a simple enough task to make a grooved pulley.
Simple really if you're a machinist. You take a big round log of aluminum and cut away the parts that don't look like a multi grooved idler pulley.
something from McMaster-Carr ? https://www.mcmaster.com/v-belt-pulleys or Dayco http://www.daycoproducts.com/stuff/...e7b2423f73/files/dimensional_pulley_guide.pdf would sure beat paying to have one made
I run mine on the back side, they are solid belts. Seems to be holding up after 1000 miles so far. The next idler I have made will be steel, the aluminum rubs off on the belts.
Here's Ronnie Roadsters setup. He has only two v-belts with a grooved alternater pully to adjust tension. This may help you with your mechanical fan. If his Ardun works with two so should yours. The third groove can maybe work your fan.
Multiple vee-belts are cool. Really common in the superchargers used in Australia in the 40-60's. I've done a heap of work on the local Norman superchargers. Attached my notes on pulley selection. Answers a few of the questions in the above thread. Cheers, Harv
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