Drive Belt Tension Gauge

$31.50

Part #: 016309
Compatibility: LT10, LT15START, LT15, LT15WIDE, LX150, LX250, LT25/LT27, LT28, LT30, LT35, LT40/LT40HD, LT40HD Super, LX450, LT50, and LT70 portable sawmills

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Drive Belt Tension Gauge (Part #: 016309) for Wood-Mizer Portable Sawmills

The Drive Belt Tension Gauge is a measurement tool to check drive belt tension on LT10, LT15START, LT15, LT15WIDE, LX150, LX250, LT25/LT27, LT28, LT30, LT35, LT40/LT40HD, LT40HD Super, LX450, LT50, and LT70 model sawmills. In addition to following the maintenance schedule in your manual, the drive belt tension gauge will help keep your sawmill in great condition so you can continue to enjoy your Wood-Mizer for years to come!

 

How to check drive belt tension on a sawmillHow to check drive belt tension on a sawmill


How To Check Drive Belt Tension

Proper drive belt tension is a critical setting on your Wood-Mizer sawmill. A loose drive belt can cause problems like wavy cuts or diving blades. An overtightened drive belt can cause premature wear and failure on many parts of the sawmill including cylindrical drive bearing, drive belt, and even engine failure.

The drive belt used on your Wood-Mizer is a V belt design. The V belt transfers power from the drive pulley to the driven pulley. A properly tensioned belt will sit in the V groove of the pulley so that the sides of the belt are the only surfaces touching. This position allows the belt to grip the pulley and still have some slippage if the drive gets in a bind.

The only way to properly set the drive belt tension is to use a belt tension gauge (Part #016309). Belt tension is set by the amount of pounds (force) it takes to move the tightened belt a set amount of inches. To find this setting for your sawmill, refer to the Drive Belt Tension Measurement Guide on this page or review in your sawmill manual.

 

How-To Videos

How to Check Drive Belt Tension for 2015 and Before LT15, LT28, and LT35 Portable Sawmills

How to Check Drive Belt Tension for 2016 and After LT15, LT28, and LT35 Portable Sawmills

How to Check Drive Belt Tension for LT40 and LT50 Portable Sawmills with AutoClutch

Frequently Asked Questions


What if my drive belt is too loose?

A V belt that is too loose will sit too high in the V groove and slip too quickly. A belt set this way will cause the blade speed to slow down in the cut because the power from the engine is not getting transferred to the blade. A belt set too loose will wear out quickly as the slipping causes heat to build up, which burns the belt.

What if my drive belt is too tight?
A V belt that is overtightened sits too deeply in the groove. This will cause the belt to deform riding only on the pulley at the bottom of the belt and small area of the side. The belt will fatigue quickly with this setting. Overtightening is the worst case for the belt and the sawmill. When the belt is over-tightened, the side load put on the engine and cylindrical drive bearing exceeds allowable specifications. This can cause major damage to the sawmill components. An over-tightened belt will slip faster, making you think that the belt is loose, causing you to tighten the belt even more.

 

Drive Belt Tension Measurement Guide

Model Tension at Deflection Maintenance Schedule
LX25 (All Power Plants) N/A with gauge refer to manual Every 50 Hours
LX55 (All Power Plants) N/A with gauge refer to manual Every 50 Hours
LT10 (All Power Plants) 19/64” (7.5mm) @ 14LB Every 50 Hours
LT15START (All Power Plants) 1/2” (13mm) @ 14LB First 20 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LT15 (All Power Plants) 1/2” (13mm) @ 14LB First 20 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LT15WIDE (All Power Plants) 1/2” (13mm) @ 14LB First 20 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LX150 (Gas) 3/16” (5mm) @ 9LB First 20 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LX250 (Gas) 3/16” (5mm) @ 9LB First 20 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LT25/LT27 (All Power Plants) 7/16” (11mm) @ 14LB First 20 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LT28 (All Power Plants) 7/16” (11mm) @ 14LB First 20 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LT30 (All Power Plants) 7/16” (11mm) @ 14LB First 5 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LT35 (All Power Plants) 7/16” (11mm) @ 14LB First 5 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LT40/LT40HD (All Power Plants) 7/16” (11mm) @ 14LB First 5 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LT40HD Super (All Power Plants) 7/16” (11mm) @ 18LB First 5 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LX450 (All Power Plants) 7/16” (11mm) @ 18LB First 5 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LT50 (All Power Plants) 7/16” (11mm) @ 18LB First 5 Hours then Every 50 Hours
LT70 (All Power Plants) 3/8” (9.5mm) @ 14LB First 20 Hours then Every 50 Hours