5. Belt and pulle 5.1 Installation, and tensioning procedure Maintenance has two aspects: shorter, regular preventive inspections and thorough Inspections with a longer period of machine shutdown. This section deals with the first type of routine inspection. 1. Simple drive inspection ‘A good way to begin preventive maintenance is making periodic drive Inspection a normal partol your maintenance rounds, Look and listen [Look and listen for any unusual vibration of sound while ‘observing the guarded drive in operation. Awell-designed land maintained drive will operate smoathiy ang quietly. Guard Inspection Inspect the guard for looseness or damage. Keep it froe ‘of debris and grime bulldup. Any accumulation of material fn the guard will act as insulation and could cause the Stive to fun hotter. ‘Temperature is an important factor of belt pertormance and durability. For example, above 60°C an internal temperature increase of 10°C (18°F) — oF approximately 20°C (38°F) rise In ambient temperature ~ may cut V-bolt ie in hat Oil and grease {iso look for oll or grease dripping from the guard. This ‘may indicate over-lubricated bearings. Oil and greace attack rubber compounds, causing them to swell and distor. ‘This wil lead to early Belt fa Attachments Finally, check motor mounts for proper tightness. Check takeup slots or rails to see that they are clean and lightly bested, 2. Frequency of inspection “The following factors wil influence the frequency of drive Inspection: + drive operating speed: + drive operating cycle: + efial nature of equipment; + temperature extremes in environment; + environmental factors: + accessibility of equipment. Experience with your own equipment willbe the best guide to how often you need to inspect the belt drives. “High speeds, heavy loads, frequent start/stop conditions, ‘extreme temperatures and drives operating on critical equipment will mean more frequent inspections, 3. When to perform preventive maintenance ‘The following guidelines wil help you estabish a preventive maintenance schedule, Critical drives ‘Aquick visual and hearing inspection may be needed avary ‘one to twa waeks. Normal drives With most drives, a quick visual and hearing inspection can be performed ance a month. Complete inspection A otive shutdown, for a thorough inspection of belts or pulleys and other drive components may be required avery Ihiee to six months, ‘Soe section IV + EB