Thursday, May 22, 2014
How to Measure a V Belt Length
V-belts have a cross section resembling a "V." The narrow end of the "V" taper sits inside the groove of a taper wheel. This increases the contact area between the pulley and the belt. During use the belt stretches and will eventually break. Installing a correctly sized replacement belt between the pulleys will ensure the belt sits under proper tension. A simple method for determining the length of a V-belt exists that allows you to avoid using a complex mathematical formula.
Instructions
- 1
Wipe the inside groove of the pulleys clean with a rag.
2Pull a length of 1/8-inch diameter twine around the two pulleys to be connected by the V-belt. Pull the twine tight. Ensure the ends of the twine overlap by 4 inches.
3Draw a line across the overlapped twine with a permanent marker. Make sure the line is visible on both pieces of twine. Remove the twine from the pulleys.
4Set the marked twine flat on a firm surface. Hold one end of the twine on the end of a tape measure. Pull the twine taught while it sits next to the tape measure. Read the dimension where the second mark on the twine falls on the tape measure to determine the length of the V-belt.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
How to Measure for Leaf Springs
Obtaining correct leaf spring measurements is vital to keep a suspension system functioning safely and correctly. Three measurements determine if a new leaf spring will mount on a vehicle without disrupting its axle location or cause problems with its ride. The straightforward approach of measuring the straight line distance between the mounting points of the spring seem like the correct approach, but more factors come into play that determine where to take the measurements.
Instructions
- 1
Lay a steel rule flat on top of the longest spring. Align the end of the steel rule with the center of the left side leaf spring mounting bracket. Push the steel rule towards the spring to bend it to the curvature of the spring. Read the measurement from the center of the mount to the center bolt holding the leaf spring pack together.
2Switch the steel rule to the right side of the leaf spring. Repeat the ruler alignment and measuring procedure to determine the distance from the right side to the center mounting bolt.
3Add the two measurements together to determine the overall length of the leaf spring.
4Tie a string line to the left leaf spring mounting point. Pull the string line across the leaf spring. Tie the string line to the right spring mounting point. Adjust the string until both tied ends of line align with the center of the mounting points.
5Push the zero end of the rule against the leaf spring at the center bolt. Read the point the string line intersects the rule to measure the spring arch.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
How to Measure Lug Bolts
Professionals use a bolt pattern gauge to measure lug bolts on a vehicle so they can determine what size wheel will fit. Even if you dont have a gauge, you can still measure your bolts with a regular ruler. Companies list wheel sizes in the format "4x4.5," where the first digit is the number of lug bolts and the second number is the diameter of a circle drawn through the middle of the bolts, expressed in inches or millimeters.
Instructions
- 1
Count the number of lug bolts on your vehicle. If it has five lug bolts, youll need to measure differently than if it has four, six or eight.
2Lay a ruler across the ends of the lug bolts and measure from the center of one lug bolt to the center of the lug bolt directly across from it, if you have an even number of lug bolts. If you have five lug bolts, measure the first and third bolt, from the center of one to the outer edge of the other.
3Convert the measurement from inches to millimeters, if necessary. Express the result in inches as a decimal by dividing out the fraction and adding it to the whole inches. Multiply the result by 25.4 to convert to millimeters. For example, to convert 4 5/8 inches, divide 5 by 8 to get .625. Add that to 4 to get 4.625, then multiply it by 25.4 to get 117.48 millimeters.