Most early belt failures are set up by the conveyor, not the belt: a crooked idler, a loading chute off centre, spillage under the return side. These are the habits that make a belt last.
Storage
- Store rolls indoors, cool, dry and out of direct sun.
- Keep away from oils, solvents, motors and welding (ozone).
- Stand rolls on their edge or hang them on a bar through the core; never lay them flat on wet ground.
- Turn a stored roll a quarter turn every month or so.
Why a belt runs off (tracking)
| What you see | Usual cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Runs off at one place, always | Idler or pulley out of square there | Square that idler set or pulley |
| One stretch of belt runs off, wherever it is | Joint not cut square | Check the joint, remake it if needed |
| Runs off at the tail when loaded | Loading off centre | Centre the chute |
| Wanders on the return side | Build-up on return idlers or pulleys | Clean them, fit or set scrapers |
| Slips at the drive | Low tension, wet or worn drive pulley | Adjust take-up, lag the drive pulley |
Checklist
- Every shift: walk the belt, check tracking, spillage and scrapers.
- Every week: idlers turning, joint condition, cuts in the top cover.
- Every month: take-up travel left, cover thickness at the worst spot, drive pulley lagging.
When to plan a replacement
When the top cover is worn to the fabric in places, the fabric shows through cuts, or plies separate at the edges. Order before the shutdown, not during it.
Questions
Why does my conveyor belt run to one side?
Usually an idler or pulley out of square, material building up on pulleys, loading off centre, or a joint not cut square. Fix the structure before training the belt.
Need the belt chosen for you?
Send your conveyor, our engineers select the belt
Length, lift, width, speed, capacity and the material. We reply with the rating, covers and grade, a datasheet and a quotation, usually the same working day.