can anyone help me properly tension the cutter blade belt on a older vermeer??!!

[AMATEURsawboy]

HELPPPPP....???!!! I'm running an older Vermeer 950 series brush chipper and need to know how to properly tension the cutter belt. I went on the Vermeer website customer service to request the maintenance manual but they require you to register the machine in order to receive the literature but there's so many questions I don't know the answer to since I m just using a buddies dad chipper and don't know where when it was purchased etc. Any help would be much appreciated. :msp_scared:

 

[CalTreeEquip]

I have never heard of a 950. Do you have a picture of it?

 

[imagineero]

The universal rule for belt tension is as much as necessary and a little as possible.

Too much belt tension causes excessive wear on the belt, and on everything it is pulling. Too little causes slippage. How much is enough? Just only enough that it doesnt slip, and no more. Some guys even do them a ever so slightly on the loose side (my bandit 250 is done that way) so that there is the tiniest little bit of slip if the machine is pushed to the point of stalling. If you're going to make a mistake it's far better to be too loose than too tight. Forget strain gauges etc.... Just do the belt up enough that you can deflect it 1/2" with your finger tips pushing hard, then run the machine. If it slips, do it up a little. Until it almost never slips. Don't do it up too tight, a little slip is ok under extreme loads.

Shaun

 

[MOE]

The universal rule for belt tension is as much as necessary and a little as possible.

Too much belt tension causes excessive wear on the belt, and on everything it is pulling. Too little causes slippage. How much is enough? Just only enough that it doesnt slip, and no more. Some guys even do them a ever so slightly on the loose side (my bandit 250 is done that way) so that there is the tiniest little bit of slip if the machine is pushed to the point of stalling. If you're going to make a mistake it's far better to be too loose than too tight. Forget strain gauges etc.... Just do the belt up enough that you can deflect it 1/2" with your finger tips pushing hard, then run the machine. If it slips, do it up a little. Until it almost never slips. Don't do it up too tight, a little slip is ok under extreme loads.

Shaun

Excellent advice! It's also important to remember that it puts more side load on the engine main bearings. On my stump grinders I run them a bit loose and use spray on belt dressing to help it grip.