FAQs about

• Isn't PowerTwist Plus a temporary belt?
  Once and for all, NO! (Boy, if we ever run into the guy who's spreading that rumor…) Anyway, that's a pretty common misconception. PowerTwist Plus is a permanent replacement for rubber V-belts. There might be other link belts that can't take the daily grind, but not PowerTwist Plus! That's why it's so important to be sure you get the RED link belt, and ONLY the red link belt.
• How do I know what section belt is on the drive?
  Measure the top of the belt. 3/8" is 3L; 1/2 " is A/4L; 5/8" is B/5L; 3/4 " is C, and 7/8" is D. Those are the most common V-belt sections, and PowerTwist Plus is available in all those sizes.
• Does it have to run in a certain direction?
  Yes, PowerTwist Plus isn't suitable for reversing drives. So determine the direction of drive rotation, and then align the directional arrows that are printed on the belt with the direction of drive rotation.
• I followed the installation instructions, but the belt is really tight. Did I do it wrong?
  No, it will seem tight. That's okay—it should be slightly tight until it seats itself.
• How do I determine the correct installation tension?
  If it doesn't slip either at start-up or under peak load, it's properly tensioned. But here are the details from our installation instructions:"Pull belt tight around sheaves to check hand tight length, overlapping the last two tabs with two holes in matching links. Count the number of links and remove one link for every 24 of O/3L, A/4L and B/5L sections, and one link for every 20 of C and D sections. This gives the correct installed belt length and will ensure optimum belt tension when running."
• How long does PowerTwist Plus last?
  When properly installed, it should give comparable life to traditional rubber V-belts, and in many cases, under elevated temperatures or harsh environments, PowerTwist Plus lasts much longer than rubber V-belts.
• How many sizes do I need to carry?
  Figure out which sections you use the most frequently—for most techs, let's just say this is A and B. So the answer in this example is: two! Just put a 100' box of each of the most common sections you use on your truck and you'll be ready for almost any occasion. You can make any length you need, so you always have the right size on hand.
• Why is PowerTwist Plus more expensive than other V-belts?
  Like they always say, "You get what you pay for." Yes, PowerTwist Plus is more expensive than rubber V-belts, or even many other link belts. But that's just on a belt-to-belt basis—a short-term view. In the long term, you need to consider the reduced inventory needed, the reduced downtime, and the fact that PowerTwist Plus outlasts and outperforms rubber V-belts and all other link belts to get the true cost of use. It's worth every penny.
• The drive design specifies a rubber belt. Can I still use PowerTwist Plus?
  Yep. PowerTwist Plus V-Belts have the same horsepower ratings and sections as classical rubber V-belts.
• What's PowerTwist Plus made of, anyway?
  It's multiple plies of a polyester and polyurethane composite. The material is what gives it its strength and durability.
• Aren't all link V-belts the same?
  Not even close. While PowerTwist Plus is a permanent replacement for rubber V-belts and is superior in harsh environments, there are many wanna-be "competitors" out there that give a bad name to link belts. That's why it's so important to use the red belt.
• PowerTwist Plus isn't a real belt, though-is it?
  Well, if by "real" you mean permanent drop-in replacement, same horsepower ratings and cross-sections as wrapped rubber V-belts, and better performance in harsh operating environments (and therefore pretty much any operating environment) then yes, PowerTwist Plus certainly is a real belt.
• In the installation instructions, it says to take out one link for every 24 links (for 3L, A/4L B/5L or every 20 links for C and D sections). Well, my belt doesn't have an even multiple of 24. So do I take out the extra link, or do I leave it in?
  Hmm. Well, that's a good question. Here's the answer: it depends on things like the length of the drive. On a longer drive, taking out one link won't make the belt too tight and can have a positive impact on the performance of the drive. But on a short drive, it can make the belt too tight and could over-tension the drive. So it's kind of a judgment call. Feel free to give us a call to discuss any problem drives you might have: 800-243-3374.
• So I just roll it onto the drive—won't that damage the belt?
  No, because it doesn't have a continuous cord like rubber V-belts. If you were to roll on a rubber V-belt, odds are good that you would damage that inner cord and wreck the belt, because in order to get the proper tension for the drive to operate, the belt needs to be pretty tight. If you can roll a rubber V-belt on easily, it's too loose.
• How do I make sure I have matched sets for multi-belt drives?
  It's simple to make matched sets-just measure out the first belt, then count out the same number of links to make each additional belt you need.
• You mean I have to count the links? What a pain!
  We feel the same way. That's why we made it easy. Remember those little arrows that are printed on the belt to show the direction it should travel? There's one arrow every 10 links. So count the arrows, times 10, and then add on any additional links at the ends and you have your number of links!
• Aren't link belts noisier in my system?
  No, they're actually quieter because they reduce the overall vibration of the system. Remember that inner tension cord in the rubber belts? That's what carries the vibrations throughout the system. With PowerTwist Plus, there's no continuous cord. The vibration doesn't get transferred from link to link, so it just dies.
• Don't link belts stretch more?
  All V-belt drives will elongate over time with use. PowerTwist Plus initially "stretches" more than rubber belts as the individual links seat themselves. That's why you need to check the tension after the drive has been running for 24 hours under full load. You may need to remove a link or two to adjust the tension. After that, the belt should be checked periodically just like any other belt drive. Unlike any other belt drive, though, retensioning is simple since you just remove links until the tension is corrected-no need to tear down the drive to replace the belt.
• What's the asterisk for?
  Umm...it's not an asterisk. It's a logo. Check out the "Fenner Drives" at the bottom of this page. See that snowflake-looking thing? That's our logo. And the "asterisk" is just the best representation that the printer can do that prints on our PowerTwist Plus. So don't sweat it—it doesn't mean anything. Except to us.