Drive Belt Installation for Bikes & Ellipticals
The drive belt is used by the flywheel within the mechanical system to provide a braking resistance for the machine. A drive pulley is mounted on the flywheel and a generator or alternator or braking system contains an additional pulley. In some designs, a idler pulley is used to tension the drive belt.
Steps to Replace Drive Belt
- 1. Using a crescent or box end wrench, remove the right pedal or shaft. In some instances, you may need to use a gear puller in order to remove the pedal or shaft. These are common and can be borrowed from many AutoZone stores if you don?t have one.
- 2. Remove and save the screws from the right side shield.
- 3. Rotate the right crank arm until it points directly forward.
- 4. Remove the right side shield by sliding the side shield over the right crank arm at an angle, being careful not to scratch or stress-mark the plastic side shield.
- 5. Detach the idler pulley spring from the idler spring bracket if your machine is equipped with an idler pulley.
- 6. Remove the poly-v drive belt from the large pulley and the generator/alternator/braking pulley. Discard the old poly-v drive belt.
- 7. Install new poly-v drive belt around the pulleys and the generator/alternator/braking pulley. Make sure the idler pulley contacts the outside (smooth side) of the belt if your machine is equipped with an idler pulley.
- 8. Reattach the idler spring if your machine is equipped with an idler pulley.
- 9. Temporarily attach the right pedal or shaft and test the drive system for proper belt alignment and tension.
- 10. Reinstall the right side shield, reversing the method described in Step 4.
- 11. Reinstall side shield screws and right pedal saved from Steps 1 and 2.
- 12. Test machine for proper operation.