4 Banded V-belts run longer and perform better if they are given the proper care and attention during installation, and in particular, during the following 48-hour running-in period.
This is a most critical time for 4 Banded V-belts, especially if they are to last for a few years. During this run-in period, the initial stretch is taken out of the belt. Also, the soft rubber surface of the belt's outer envelope is abraded away, and the belt settles deeper in the groove of the sheave.
This causes the belt to run slack. At this point, the slack on the new belts must be taken up to avoid considerable slippage, frictional burning, and other irreparable damage. It is very important that the belts are checked often over the first few days of operation and are adjusted according to the correct tension until all signs of stretching have been eliminated. This practice will eliminate early damage and promote longer belt lives.