Chris, if there is a spring-loaded belt-tensioning idler, that should have enough movement to tighten your belt. The idler should be on the slack side of the belt, not the tension side: that is, it should be in the part of the belt that is on the way out from the drive pulley, not being pulled back to the drive pulley. Please check the way you have set up the belt-tensioning idler, ensuring that you have the belt on the correct side of it, and the spring is working properly.

Quite a lot of V belts have those grooves on the inside, to allow them to wrap around small diameter pulleys without over-stressing the rubber belt. Heat is the enemy of V belts. Tight turns, and belt slip, are the main causes of belt heating.

Last edited by grumpy; 05/10/11 01:54 AM. Reason: Correct error on which is tension side of drive pulley