The big pulley should be in about the same plane as the smaller one. The belt will tolerate a few degrees of misalignment - but I'd guess that even 10 degrees off would heat up and wear the belt. Sounds like something is bent, broken or missing. The whole assembly is made to pivot when the bar breaks away, but it should all rotate as a unit, with the belt still lined up in the pulleys. Could you maybe post a picture? Take care, Dick B