🔍 Key Concepts

• Behavior of V-belts in multiple-belt drives (how they share load) • Effect of belt stretch and wear on length and tension • Why unequal belt lengths cause unequal load sharing

💭 Think About

• If you put one brand-new belt in with several worn belts, which belt will naturally carry more tension, and why? • How does belt length relate to the amount of load a belt will carry in a multi-belt set? • In a maintenance situation, what matters more: minimizing parts cost today or preventing overload and early failure of remaining components?

✅ Before You Answer

• Compare how new vs worn belt length affects tension on each belt in the set • Consider whether pulley adjustment can actually change the relative length difference between belts • Think about load distribution: what happens to the other belts if only one carries most of the load?