paper: Belt Driven VersaChassis WCD - Step by Step guide

[Oblarg]

Originally Posted by asid61

From what I've read, you should put in tensioners regardless because of the tolerances required for belt engagement. Adding a cam tensioner is less than 0.1lbs anyway, so there's no reason not to have one.

There is a reason not to have one, in that they cost money and can be safely skipped provided you have some other way of keeping the block from sliding.

The easiest way to do this is to simply assemble the thing without the cam, pull the versa-block until the belt is properly-tensioned, and then match-drill from one of the holes in the versa-block through the framing member and bolt it in place. You will then never have to worry about belt-tension again, and can save money on the cams. We did this last year at 449, and it worked perfectly. If your pulley is too close to the framing member to fit a nut on the other side of the versa-block, you can even tap one of the holes and just screw it into the versa-block itself.

I would not recommend doing this with chain.