Drive Belt System Description

The drive belt system consists of the following components:

• The drive belt
• The drive belt tensioner
• The crankshaft balancer
• The accessory drive components
  • The generator
  • The A/C compressor

The drive belt is thin so that it can bend backward and has several ribs to match the grooves in the pulleys. The drive belts are made of different types of rubber (chloroprene or EPDM) and have different layers or plays containing either fiber cloth or cords for reinforcement.

Both sides of the drive belt may be used to drive the different accessory drive components. When the back side of the drive belt is used to drive a pulley, the pulley is smooth.

The drive belt is pulled by the crankshaft balancer pulley across the accessory drive component pulleys. The spring loaded drive belt tensioner keeps constant tension on the drive belt to prevent the drive belt from slipping. The drive belt tensioner arm will move when loads are applied to the drive belt by the accessory drive components and the crankshaft.