At times premature belt failure can be traced to improper belt storage that damaged the belt before it was installed on the drive. Therefore, good preventive maintenance should not be limited to the actual belt drive operating on equipment, but should also include proper storage procedures. By following a few common sense steps, good quality belts will retain their initial serviceability.
RECOMMENDED
Store your belts in a cool and dry environment with no direct sunlight. Ideally, below +30°C and 70% relative humidity.
When stacked on shelves, the stacks should be small enough so that the belts at the bottom of the stack are not damaged by the weight of the rest of the belts.
When stored in containers, limit the contents of the container for the same reason.
NOT RECOMMENDED
Do not store belts near radiators or heaters or in the air flow from heating devices.
Do not store belts near any devices that generate ozone (e.g. fluorescent lights or certain electric devices).
Do not store belts where they are exposed to solvents or chemicals.
Do not store belts in a configuration that would result in bend diameters less than the minimum recommended pulley diameter for normal bends and less than 1.2 times the minimum recommended diameters for reverse bends.
METHODS OF STORAGE
Storage procedures are different depending on the belt type. Below suggestions will help you retain serviceability and dimensions for all belt types.
V-belts, V-ribbed belts, joined V-belts
May be stored by hanging on a wall rack if they are hung on a “saddle” (or large diameter tubular bracket) with a diameter at least as large as the minimum recommended pulley diameter.
Long V-belts can also be stacked to save space, provided that they are correctly coiled.
Variable-speed belts
Are more sensitive to distortion than most other belts, so hanging them from a wall rack is not recommended. These belts should be stored on shelves.
Synchronous belts
May be stored in a nested configuration: nests are formed by laying a belt on its side on a flat surface and placing as many belts inside the first belt as possible without undue force.
When nests are formed, do not bend the belts to a diameter that is smaller than the minimum recommended pulley diameter.