Single vs Dual Compressor Pulley Belts

[f575gtc]

Hey guys, I am upgrading the pump on my air compressor from an old 9.2CFM air pump to a more modern 5hp 15.2CFM pump. The issue is my old system used a 5hp motor with a single belt pulley, where as the pulley on the new pump uses a dual belt setup.

Do I NEED to utilize both belts? I am going be running a slightly smaller pulley than recommended to slow down the pump for longevity so will a single belt work?

Thank you

 

[larry_g]

You have a lot of data missing for anyone to make an educated guess at your question. read the document here and educate yourself to what all goes into selecting a belt drive, http://www.c-rproducts.com/downloads/pdfs/Industrial_vbelt_drives_design _guide.pdf

Pay attention to belt size and the degrees of wrap your system has. Near the end of the document is a guide to help you determine the answer to your question.

That said you probably will be ok with a single belt unless it is a 3 or 4 series. Make sure that both of your pulleys are for the same belt size. Also research your pump head to determine what speed to turn it for the motor HP you have. Just putting a bigger pump head head on will not necessarily give you more CFM's. There is a limit to how much air that a given HP can deliver. If you start overcurrenting the motor then you know your trying to turn the pumphead to fast or to to high of a cutout pressure.

Also be aware that there is a minimum speed for most pumps. Go below it and you can run into lubrication and heat problems.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[EOC_Jason]

I have a friend that the stock pump / pulley setup on his (5HP) had two grooves on the flywheel but only one on the motor. So obviously it only had one belt.

I wouldn't be too concerned. Like the above person mentioned, make sure the pulleys are for the same style belt. Though if you end up having to replace the pulley on the motor, might as well get one for a dual belt, I can't imagine they are that expensive.

 

[justanengineer]

JMHO, but Id highly suggest matching the motor to the pump, not the pump to the motor. Ive seen a lot of high $$$ pumps ruined by hobbyists who cheap out on motor or pulley size, which slows the pump down to the point that they dont get proper lubrication.

 

[f575gtc]

Rest assured, I have looked up the minimum rpm for the pump I am using and the pulley I would run would still be higher than the minimum, just not near the maximum rpm the pump can spin at.

 

[Unmarked Bill]

Asking that question here is like asking Maaco if your transmission needs rebuilt. If one belt spins your pump okay then one belt is okay.

 

[C96]

First off, sounds like you’re existing 5hp compressor is not a real true 5hp. A 9.2 cfm pump would most likely be a 2-3hp max. I have never seen a true 5hp compressor with only a one belt pulley set up. Your new pump has a double belt pulley for a reason.

If you install that new pump with your existing motor, you’re going to find it’s not powerful enough and you will have to change out the motor as well.

If you use a smaller pulley on the motor to compensate for its lack of power, (lower RPM) you most likely will not gain much in the way of cfm over your existing setup. Also like the others have said, you risk lubrication.

Good Luck

 

[strutaeng]

You have a lot of data missing for anyone to make an educated guess at your question. read the document here and educate yourself to what all goes into selecting a belt drive, http://www.c-rproducts.com/downloads/pdfs/Industrial_vbelt_drives_design _guide.pdf

Pay attention to belt size and the degrees of wrap your system has. Near the end of the document is a guide to help you determine the answer to your question.

That said you probably will be ok with a single belt unless it is a 3 or 4 series. Make sure that both of your pulleys are for the same belt size. Also research your pump head to determine what speed to turn it for the motor HP you have. Just putting a bigger pump head head on will not necessarily give you more CFM's. There is a limit to how much air that a given HP can deliver. If you start overcurrenting the motor then you know your trying to turn the pumphead to fast or to to high of a cutout pressure.

Also be aware that there is a minimum speed for most pumps. Go below it and you can run into lubrication and heat problems.

lg
no neat sig line

I think this is the best advice.

My brother's boss has an gas-powered service air compressor with 2 belts. He kept running it after one broke and a few weeks latter the other belt broke.

 

[zkling]

Short answer, yes, you will get quite a bit more belt life out of a 2 matched belt system over the single. I'm curious too, what pump do you have?