Alignment double check

gunwhatgun

So, I would like get feedback from the gurus here on my belt alignment. This is the first time I have done any type of engine install with a belt drive set up. I feel about 90% confident that I have it dead straight but I would love to hear some tips and tricks. You can probably tell, but it is a brand new 780 drive clutch and the stock EZGO driven clutch. I know the belt is to far down into the driven clutch, that is an old belt we are using for mock up.


belt alignment.jpg

belt alignment2.jpg

BGW

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slonomo

It's hard to tell from those photos, they are kind of at an angle. One way to know for sure it to take a piece of 1" bar stock and lay it down on the pulleys and stand back and take a look. Another way is to look at the engine mounting bolts and see if they are parallel to the axle, put a straight edge across either the rear bolts or the front bolts, then take a measurement from there to the axle centerline.

gunwhatgun

Man I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't think of either of those. Thanks a ton for both of those ideas.

slonomo

Hey no need to feel embarrassed. What engine is that?

gunwhatgun

Duromax 18hp

slonomo

One sure way to check alignment is to run it. If it looks good to the eye, bolt it down and take it for a ride. If it shifts smooth without any belt issues you should be good to go. Perfect alignment is not needed, there is some room for error here. The rubber belt is forgiving of a tiny amount of misalignment.

gunwhatgun

It's hart to tell in this pick, but what were doing is positioning the engine plate to be welded. Once it's welded there is no more lateral movement, that is why I am concerned about alignment. I won't get a test ride lol. It's funny, we fabricate stuff all the time and it works out well. I have no idea why this belt on this cart is in my head so bad

slonomo

I usually use a plate that is slotted, that way you can move the engine around a little bit. I just use a grinder with 1/8" wheel on it and cut the slots about 1" long. That will give you the wiggle room to fine tune the belt.

gunwhatgun

I pulled the trigger and went full commitment yesterday. We bolted the plate loosely to the engine and set it on its cradle. We the used a straight edge (per your advise) and aligned the clutches by using the diagrams in one of the links I found here. We marked the hangers and lifted the engine and welded it all up. Put it all back together it seems to all line up. The belt slips on nice and easy and is nice and straight. All I'm waiting for now is the longer drive belt and shifter relocation brackets from VC and we should be close to final assembly.

slonomo

Did you allow for 1-2" of belt deflection?