Terry Oxandale
Skinny Man
Looking for some help from the forum on a question I have about the "double bar" method of attaching a belt to the floor. Because I basically sit on the floor of this project, I've chosen to use this method (perhaps used by the open wheelers?).
Anyway, the question I have is should the bars have any solid spacers (washers for example) between each of the bars, or is the entire assembly tightened such that the bars squeeze the belt material? The wrapping method self tightens, so I'm not worried about the belt sliding out of the assembly, but I am worried about the pressure the two bars place on the belt webbing when I tighten the bolts, and concerned that it may 1) damage the belt from being squeezed to tightly, or 2) the webbing (because it is not a solid stiff material) will allow the assembly to loosen over time. I realize that if a solid spacer is used to limit the amount of pressure the bars place on the webbing, it would have to be a very accurate dimension (too thick, and the belt is not adequately secure, too thin, and I'm back in the same place that prompted this query.
The belts are about .060" thick, so doubling that on the bottom layer makes for a less than ideal "solid" assembly, even with the bolts torqued and perhaps locktite added to them. It just doesn't make sense to not have spacers between the bars, and having those spacers just slightly thinner than the belt material (e.g. .050" to .040"?).
Anyway, the question I have is should the bars have any solid spacers (washers for example) between each of the bars, or is the entire assembly tightened such that the bars squeeze the belt material? The wrapping method self tightens, so I'm not worried about the belt sliding out of the assembly, but I am worried about the pressure the two bars place on the belt webbing when I tighten the bolts, and concerned that it may 1) damage the belt from being squeezed to tightly, or 2) the webbing (because it is not a solid stiff material) will allow the assembly to loosen over time. I realize that if a solid spacer is used to limit the amount of pressure the bars place on the webbing, it would have to be a very accurate dimension (too thick, and the belt is not adequately secure, too thin, and I'm back in the same place that prompted this query.
The belts are about .060" thick, so doubling that on the bottom layer makes for a less than ideal "solid" assembly, even with the bolts torqued and perhaps locktite added to them. It just doesn't make sense to not have spacers between the bars, and having those spacers just slightly thinner than the belt material (e.g. .050" to .040"?).
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