Repair 7

How to Measure V Belt Size

On their own, v belts (also called vee belts or fan belts) look like large, heavy-duty rubber bands. The name derives from the v-shaped cross-section that sits in the groove of a wheel in a pulley system (the belt sits deeper as its workload increases in weight). V-belts are essential components in many auto parts such as auto-steering columns, water pumps, air conditioners and other systems that require little to moderate amounts of force. V-belts come in a wide range of sizes and proper measuring will determine the appropriate replacement part.

Instructions

1

To measure a v-belt that is still on the machine, unwind a length of string or rope and wrap it around the length of the belt surrounding the pulley.

2

When the string wraps around the entire circumference of the belt, use a marker to clearly mark the end as it meets the beginning portion. This allows for less room for measuring errors later on.

3

Align the string with a tape measure across a flat surface, pulling tightly on the string so that it runs smoothly across the length of the tape.

4

Read the number on the tape measure to determine the size of your v-belt. Subtract 2 inches from that number to determine the belts inner circumference.