Gates belt tension gauges

[pendragon1998]

I am doing my drive belts on my truck, and I would like something more accurate for measuring belt tension than estimating deflection while my fat finger is pushing on it. Are these Gates tension testers any good? (What's the COO?)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000CRDLZM/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I will seldom use this, so I just want to put $20ish into it. If I need a more expensive one, I will borrow one, I guess.

 

[JJThrasher]

I've never seen the use for one, just make sure they're tight and tighten them some more if the make noise.

 

[pendragon1998]

Having just dropped $200 on an alternator and $60 on belts, I would rather not chance anything.

 

[logikal]

When in doubt there is a spec pertaining to your vehicle. usually the procedure involves running a straight edge on two pulleys and using a dial indicator (cough, ruler, cough) to measure deflection.

 

[ngonerogwu]

I have one, and have been very happy with it.

Anyone who's seen it makes a comment about how that's dumb until they use it.

 

[PureLeaf]

I have 2 of these. I agree about how dumb they look. Without having a proper belt tensioner to compare it against, I couldn't say how accurate it is... But I used it when I felt the belts already were snug, and I knew they were supposed to have about 1/2 inch of deflection, then coupled that with that little gates gauge to reinforce that I was good.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Must be pretty old ! I haven't sen a V-belt on a car/truck in a LONG time !

 

[Skin]

Must be pretty old ! I haven't sen a V-belt on a car/truck in a LONG time !

Doesn't have to be a v-belt. Any belt run along a pulley with an adjustment screw has a torque spec or tension spec.

 

[pendragon1998]

Coo?

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

I have two of those ,I got mine at a NAPA store. They are called belt Krikit's and are made by Dayco. One is made for V-belts and the other is used for Poly-Ribbed.