Poly V-belt Travelpower

[RJE]

Hello all,

 

Hoping for some guidance on tensioning a PK1600 poly v-belt that drives a Travelpower 3kW generator. 
I’m getting some squealing when the TP is used to run the washing machine or immersion. Hoping this is just the belt an not TP bearings. 

Belt was replaced when TP generator was rewound so it’s entirely possible I have under-tensioned it. Only way to adjust is by moving the TP generator on its pivot using some form of lever. 
 

Any advice appreciated!

 

[nicknorman]

General rule is you should be able to twist the belt through 90degrees  mid-span with moderate force. The belt will always squeal under heavy load at low rpm, so keep the revs up well above idle when under heavy electrical load eg washing machine heater.

 

The lower the rpm, the more load on the belt.

Edited July 26 by nicknorman

[BEngo]

Poly V belts should always be tightened with a positive movement device- usually based on a screw thread. For the long term benefit of the belt and the TP bearings it would be worth trying to replace the slotted alternator adjusting bar with a proper tensioner.

 

Suitable eye÷ends and threaded rod (aka allthread or studding)can be found on e-bay and other websites. 8mm or 10mm rod should be suitable.

 

N

 

[RJE]

Thanks for the comments. Have tightened so can twist 90 degrees with reasonable force and all good so far 👍🏻

[Peugeot 106]

Mine was squealing on start up until I revved it.  It was quite difficult to twist to 90 degrees. I slackened it to make it easier to twist and it is fine now. So I suspect you can get it to tight

[hider]

5 minutes ago, Peugeot 106 said:

Mine was squealing on start up until I revved it.  It was quite difficult to twist to 90 degrees. I slackened it to make it easier to twist and it is fine now. So I suspect you can get it to tight

Yes, you can. Same with toothed engine timing belts, they squawk if too tight. 

[Peugeot 106]

4 hours ago, BEngo said:

Poly V belts should always be tightened with a positive movement device- usually based on a screw thread. For the long term benefit of the belt and the TP bearings it would be worth trying to replace the slotted alternator adjusting bar with a proper tensioner.

 

Suitable eye÷ends and threaded rod (aka allthread or studding)can be found on e-bay and other websites. 8mm or 10mm rod should be suitable.

 

N

 

Good idea as ever @BEngo I tension mine with the windlass handle which is a bit hit and miss

[hider]

25 minutes ago, Peugeot 106 said:

Good idea as ever @BEngo I tension mine with the windlass handle which is a bit hit and miss

Mine didn't fit the nuts so I used a mooring pin. That won't do nuts either!

[dmr]

Mine is also difficult and I need to use a length of wood as a lever to tension it. A BEngo type turnbuckle is ever so close to the top of the todo list.

The TP bearings do need replacing from time to time, especially with the old black box model. And with the old black one its a compromise between getting the tension to almost stop the squeal, and not overloading the bearings. Some people say a freewheel pulley can help.

[JoeC]

I had Ed Shires (Four Counties Marine Services) look at mine as it had an issue (turned out to be the alternator brushes had worn down) and he said the belt tensioning is a pain in the neck to get to the correct tension. I now use a piece of wood as a lever.

 

Also got him to reduce the size of the pully wheel on the TP alternator so that I don't have to rev the engine so high as I got him to use the Travel Power to charge my lithium batteries rather than upgrade my domestic alternator (this is now disconnected). This means that I don't have 240v on tap via the TP but I hardly every used it that way anyway.