Belt tension gauge/tester

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gzt

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Topic # 113578 21-Jan-2013 13:20
Anyone know where to purchase a reasonably priced belt tension gauge/tester in NZ? Anything less than or around twice the US price would be reasonable (ie; around NZ$40) This is one type: http://www.amazon.com/Gates-91132-Belt-Tension-Tester/dp/B000CRDLZM There is another cheap type which is a simple push rod thing with a spring inside it. That would be ok also.

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Reply # 748203 21-Jan-2013 13:51
You could try Tranzcorp - they seem to sell the Optikrik (German) range of tools. The individual gauges (four different tension ranges) seem to be $45+GST according to the flyer: http://tranzcorp.co.nz/assets/pdf/Optibelt%20Service%20Tools%20(Tranz)(Add%20Extender)%2023.9.10.pdf Specs from the manufacturer are at: http://www.optibelt.de/fileadmin/bilder/service/technische_hilfmittel/Konstruktionshilf_D-GB.pdf (First page in German, second in English). "It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of what he was never reasoned into." — most commonly attributed to Jonathan Swift, author/theologian

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Reply # 748237 21-Jan-2013 15:14
Thanks for that! My car manual specifies the required tension as 100 lbs / 45 kilo. That converts to around 440 newtons. For some reason that particular gauge range has a gap between 200N and 500N. No luck with supercheap or repco. I will spend some more time on the phone later. I might put in some practice with my thumb on the bathroom scales and see how my guess measures up when I finally get hold of a gauge.

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Reply # 748241 21-Jan-2013 15:17
gzt: Thanks for that! My car manual specifies the required tension as 100 lbs / 45 kilo. That converts to around 440 newtons. For some reason that particular gauge range has a gap between 200N and 500N. No luck with supercheap or repco. I will spend some more time on the phone later. I might put in some practice with my thumb on the bathroom scales and see how my guess measures up when I finally get hold of a gauge. Eh. Just tighten it until it no longer slips.

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Reply # 748273 21-Jan-2013 15:57
Fair comment. In most cars that is difficult to do in realtime. Second, too tight and you reduce the life, too loose and you will be adjusting it before you need to. Third, differences due to temperature variation etc. I would prefer to follow the manufacturers specifications to maximise life and reduce the adjustment interval. The replacement interval for external belts is somewhere around 60,000 Km I think. Maybe you are just better at it than I am!

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Reply # 748276 21-Jan-2013 16:01
gzt: Fair comment. In most cars that is difficult to do in realtime. Second, too tight and you reduce the life, too loose and you will be adjusting it before you need to. Third, differences due to temperature variation etc. I would prefer to follow the manufacturers specifications to maximise life and reduce the adjustment interval. The replacement interval for external belts is somewhere around 60,000 Km I think. Maybe you are just better at it than I am! Once the belt breaks in you'll need to tension it anyway. Usually I tension until there is about 2cm of give and try it (if it's the alternator, with lights, fan and rear windscreen heater on). If it squeals then I tension it a little and try again. Not that hard, really.

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Reply # 748341 21-Jan-2013 18:01
If you are getting 60K from your belts you are definitely doing it right!