Rhino Tread Delamination

[BoilerMentor]

Originally Posted by ratdude747

Shouldn't matter if it was an AM belt.

Sorry to contradict you, but I respectfully disagree.

It's the same reason people void warranties on all sorts of things. You can't purchase a component from a manufacturer, use it clearly outside of the intended use case (in this situation, not using the appropriate pulleys) and expect a product to be warrantied.

Kudos to AM for exploring a solution even though this is the case.

[ratdude747]

Originally Posted by BoilerMentor

Sorry to contradict you, but I respectfully disagree.

It's the same reason people void warranties on all sorts of things. You can't purchase a component from a manufacturer, use it clearly outside of the intended use case (in this situation, not using the appropriate pulleys) and expect a product to be warrantied.

Kudos to AM for exploring a solution even though this is the case.

I see your point although I'd point out that the pulleys (at least in the picture) look to be larger which would create less flex which in turn should make the belt less likely to de-laminate.

Also, a lot of AM products are intended for custom installation; the warranty is good, as long as you don't modify the product or do something obviously dumb (like we did in 2010 to that poor AM2's dog gears).

If you look at AM's listing, they mention having pulleys that are specifically designed for the belt, but nowhere do they say that the pulleys are the "intended" use of the product. I personally interpret that to mean that as long as you're not abusing them, for warranty purposes, you're covered.

I do agree that it is nice that AM goes to so much trouble to investigate reported issues.

[Mr. Ackroyd]

Team 3044 here.

we did have the same issue but the belts were sourced from BrecoFlex. The problem turned out to be the result of a large influx of orders by FRC teams and the company was pulling all stock they had on hand to get orders out. This in turn weakened their manufacturing process and the belts we not heat welded long enough.. The company was great to work with and they sent new belts free of charge.

It looks like a similar issue where the belts were not heat welded long enough. I would recommend finding spares for competition. Once the delamination process began, it was a matter of ten minutes before the belts came off the treads..

good luck and i hope the re-gluing works

[marshall]

Any word on if the glue is holding for these?

[Electronica1]

Because it hasn't been mentioned yet, Brecoflex told us that shoe goo is supposed to work really well if you are using rubber backings.

[BoilerMentor]

Originally Posted by marshall

Any word on if the glue is holding for these?

No issues with out AM sourced belts and pulleys through 19 very, very competitive district matches.