Sizing V-belts....?

[AdeV]

OK, now as I've got my Chinese alternator, and yesterday I picked up a good sized pulley, the only things left are a taper bush of the right size (less than a tenner delivered - can't argue with that), the only thing I need now is a pair of Vee belts...

...how do I go about working out what length I should get? Should I just figure the pulley-to-pulley centre distance & add in 1/2 of the circumference of each pulley + add a little for luck? Obviously, at this time, I have complete freedom of choice as to where to put the alternator, so If I do get it a little bit wrong, I'll be able to take up any slack with an adjuster...

[Geno]

Online Pulley Calculator

http://www.gizmology.net/pulleysbelts.htm
This guy has some other pretty neat stuff on his site.

I saved the page to my hard drive and have access to it that way whenever I need.

Thanks, Geno

[AdeV]

I should say, I haven't actually built the frame that'll hold the alternator yet, so I'm totally free as to how far away from the engine it ends up being....

Jens, that also precludes your method! Based on the fact the pulley is currently de-rusting in a pot about 5 yards from the engine, and the gen head is about 3 yards the other way, I'd end up with a 60 foot belt! 

[mobile_bob]

go old school

drive it with rope!



bob g

[AdeV]

Jens, that also precludes your method! Based on the fact the pulley is currently de-rusting in a pot about 5 yards from the engine, and the gen head is about 3 yards the other way, I'd end up with a 60 foot belt! 

Might have to be special order  ...

Lol - I guess that's what they'd call a serpentine belt?

[squarebob]

What a great little calculator. Thanks for the link

Bob