plain old belt tightener.

firemanpat2910 · May 17, 2011

Any suggestions on where to find a plain old fashion belt tightener? I have a air compressor that the belt is slipping. Grand pa had a tool that looked like a turn buckle. you put one side against the compressor head, the other against the motor. loosen the motor mounting bolts, turn the buckle to lengthen the tool and it pushed the motor away, tightening the belt. then you tighten the motor mount bolts. I can not find anything simular, looked at harbor freight,TSC, autozone ect.

bcp · May 17, 2011

firemanpat2910 said:
Any suggestions on where to find a plain old fashion belt tightener? I have a air compressor that the belt is slipping. Grand pa had a tool that looked like a turn buckle. you put one side against the compressor head, the other against the motor. loosen the motor mounting bolts, turn the buckle to lengthen the tool and it pushed the motor away, tightening the belt. then you tighten the motor mount bolts. I can not find anything simular, looked at harbor freight,TSC, autozone ect.

I've seen a mounted 2-eye turnbuckle used for that a lot.

For a portable one, weld the eyes closed, then cut off the end so it looks like a "Y"

Bruce

Wolfy · May 17, 2011

One way I have done it is to cut a block to fit between the motor and the pump. Cut it maybe 1/4" short, then by wedging in a long wrecking bar you will gain the leverage to move it, then tighten. I can tell you though it is much easier if 2 people do it. One pulls the bar, one tightens the bolts.

MikeD74T · May 17, 2011

One could easily weld up a pulley pusher from a turnbuckle. Another option readily available is a spring loader pulley belt tensioner like on serpentine belts. Grainger has them. Third option is to weld a bolt onto the motor frame to pull the motor back on the compressor stand like these http://www.overlyhautz.com/.
Belt compound used to be around also, a sticky compound in stick form you held against the running belt that increased friction between belt & pulleys. MikeD74t