I have several spare belts on hand here: 4L-420 (1/2"X 42"). Not sure if that's
the size I'm using, or these are leftovers after having switched to a smaller
belt. I do recall switching to a smaller circumference in the past...it made
things operate much better.
They're readily available from auto parts supply houses, there is nothing
proprietary about the Tri-Ex/Tash one. Also, once you find a supplier of 1/2"
belts, you can readily find ones that are slightly larger or smaller.
I have used the ones with and without the teeth, doesn't seem to make much
difference, the key seems to be getting a good fit to match the pulley
placement. The belts do stretch so annual replacement is another maintenance
item.
GL & 73
Dan
K0DAN
PS From the nomenclature you list, it appears those belts are 41"
----- Original Message -----
From: paul@w8aef.com
To: k2xx@swva.net ; k0dan
Cc: Tower Talk ; k6ll@adelphia.net ; KJ6Y@aol.com ; K9RB@bellsouth.net ;
wa3gin@erols.com
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2005 1:50 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Belt Slippage on LM-470 Towers
It could also be that the belt is too narrow and rides in the bottom of the
pulleys. The belt dressing is a good idea. Even if it slips when first
applied it will (should) reduce slippage in the future.
There doesn't seem to be a brand name on my belt. There are two sets of
numbers on it: 321 E 12 and 43517. I think the 43517 is the manufacturers part
number. This is a belt that I purchased to replace the worn belt that came
with the tower. Sorry, can't remember where I obtained it, maybe an auto parts
store. This belt also has 'teeth', for lack of a better word. It does not
have the same continuous cross-section, it has teeth.
Also, the Tri-ex bill of materials calls for either a Dayco 4L410 or Gates
2410 belt.
de Paul, W8AEF
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Giacobello
To: k0dan
Cc: paul@w8aef.com ; Tower Talk ; k6ll@adelphia.net ; KJ6Y@aol.com ;
K9RB@bellsouth.net ; wa3gin@erols.com
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2005 7:27 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Belt Slippage on LM-470 Towers
Thanks, Paul, Dan, Skip, both Daves and Roger.
To answer several questions, I had recently changed to a new belt, applied
grease to the drum via the fitting and changed the gearbox oil. Frankly, I may
have been a little lax about oiling the pulley bearings on one tower, but I
know I had done it recently on the other tower. I really don't think the issue
is the pulleys or obstructions to the movement of sections.
Usually, I can get things to work properly by simply retightening the belt.
In fact, I got it running yesterday and while it was going up sprayed Belt
Dressing on the pulleys. The slippage immediately began again. I think that
Belt Dressing is more of a lubricant and seems to make the problem worse. The
can says it is for the elimination of squeaks.
The idea of reducing the belt size by a half inch makes a lot of sense. In
the past I had blindly replaced the belts with the identical size that came
with the towers. I bought a shorter belt yesterday and will try it out on
Friday.
Frankly, I had no idea that there was some kind of clutch mechanism
associated with the large pulley. I knew that the mounting hardware was
unusual, but that information was a revelation. I'll pay more attention to it
in the future.
I'll let you know how the shorter belt works tomorrow.
73, Joe
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