The Steamboating Forum

All,

Will I be OK using a vbelt to run my water pump ? It seems like it would be a lot quieter than a chain drive. Also, If I do so, should I be thinking variable pitch pulleys or just go with a straight ratio ?

jon

v belt works fine; a #35 chain drive isn't noisy if you use 20 teeth sprockets or so and run it at crankshaft speed if you do use a v-belt, don't use tiny pulleys either. A 3VX section belt will work well, has low losses and you can make your own pulleys to suit on the lathe from 1/2" Al plate.

- Bart

I agree with Bart about V-belts. The power needed isn't that great and besides, if the system hydraulic locks due to operator error in not opening the right valve, you might rather the belt slipped!

Don't overlook segmented belts.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Power-T ... -4-/T21992
Other sources might have a better price. They run very smoothly and you can make them up any length you wish as well as take them apart when needed. Great for a difficult installation.

It's probably not rational but I am nervous around chain drives. I can see my finger getting munched.

My original pump drive was great big #60 (3/4") chain and it growled a lot. I have no idea why the builder put together such a thing.

Bicycle chain and sprockets are easy to find if you can machine up the needed hubs.

You'll be fine running a hypro on vee belts. Kapanui has hers running on a twin belt system (she's in commercial operation, so twin belts is fairly important). With a pulley on the output flange on the engine, and another on the pump, it works well.
Daniel