drive belt tension

[racerone3]

how tight should the drive belt on a late 80's argo? and how do i adjust? are the motor mounts sloted to let it slide forward, and thus tighten the belt? it.s really loose, with the engine off, i can grab the belt between the clutches, and squeeze the belt together till it touches it's self. too loose right?

[LarryW]

The belt isnt adjustable, or I should say I have never seen one that is. Not familiar with argo's. They get loose from wear making them skinner. They then start sitting in the driven pulley deeper, that makes the belt looser. You probably need a new one. Unless someone installed one that is bigger because they making differant size belts. I would look at the driven pulley and see how deep in is sitting in there. It doesnt take much for it to get real loose.

[ArgoGirb67]

no adjustment for belt,the engine and trans. are fixed.time for a new belt.the only adjustment is for the primary chains,the whole powerpack has enlongated holes ,adjustment bolt on bottom.HTH

[racerone3]

i tried loosening the motor mount bolts to see if it would slide forward and tighten the belt. no luck i'm gonna get a new belt this week, but i'm thinking of pulling the engine and sloting the holes to make it adjustable. i'd think that i could then get a little more use out of a belt.

currently when i rev the engine, the engine clutch ramps all the way up, but hardly moves the driven clutch... it spins, but won't get any wider. i can move the driven clutch by hand, so i know it's not stuck. the machine will go forward or reverse, but hardly has enough torque to turn.

[Roger S]

Don't know about the early argos, but the later ones are adjustable with shims inside the driven clutch between the shiv halves. Shouldn't be a need to change them once set by the factory though, if it has the right belt on it. But that is the only thing I know of to adjust the belt.

[LarryW]

currently when i rev the engine, the engine clutch ramps all the way up, but hardly moves the driven clutch... it spins, but won't get any wider. i can move the driven clutch by hand, so i know it's not stuck. the machine will go forward or reverse, but hardly has enough torque to turn.

With a worn belt it sits in the pulleys wrong. This take all the low end ratio out of it. Sort of like loosing first gear and taking off in 2nd gear all the time. When you get a new one you will be amazed at how much power you gain.