V-Belt Vs Poly Chain

Vince Wood

Active member
I'm going to be setting up a new unit to replace the one on my truck. I'm going to be going with a Hot Box that is propane heated and a 8 GPM 3500 PSI Cold Water Skid Unit. I've been looking at a few cold water units and my question is it is worth the extra $$$ you pay for the poly chain unit versus the v-belt units? Any advantages of going to the poly chain?

I'm staying with a new propane hot box for the following reasons....

It's cheaper if I piece the new unit together myself
I get propane a lot cheaper than diesel
In California the Air Quality Management District here wants you to pay for a special permit for all diesel fired hot water pressure washers (about $600 per year per unit I think)
 
There are several advantages to a polychain. Zero slippage, virtually no stretching and wearing, the belt can be very short and the pulleys small, so a more compact footprint is attainable.
 
There are several advantages to a polychain. Zero slippage, virtually no stretching and wearing, the belt can be very short and the pulleys small, so a more compact footprint is attainable.

Sounds like the way to go!


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Plus the ones I'm looking at have a 2 year poly chain waranty.


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Do they run quieter our smoother?


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Poly-Chain drive vs. Belt Drive

<o:pThe poly chain drive system is a great distraction from the common issues of pressure wash pump systems..
Primary problems in this industry revolve around the waya pump is plumbed.

Here's the deal on v-belts..
A bean-counter started making systems with 3skinnier-than-standard belts..
When they failed.. everyone complained the belts werenon-standard, and special-order only.
Another bean counter made pressure washers with fewer belts than standard,
they overheated them and threw belts more often, causing a maintenance nightmare.
..everyone whined about the belts slipping and finickybelt-guards.
Pressure-Pros came out with the poly-chain drive, andpromotes it as indestructible, and the new twist.. Non-Slip.
..at an additional cost of $150 to $250 .. and still adistraction from the REAL important issues..
V-belts "properly matched to the hp of the system" havebeen used as industry standard for 100 years.
..at 16 gas-engine hp.. 2 B belts on pulleys no smallerthan 4"diameter work great. 3 belts aren't required 'til you hit 20hp.
..BXseries "notched " belts are longer lived upgrade.
.."backed" B belts (AKA.. "Double-Belts" or"Triple-Belts") are a beefier step up..they are double the surface area gripping the pulleys,
..AND.. they canbe replaced "in pinch" withstandard, NAPA store v-belts.
We have been using these Multi-Belts on the larger 40, 50and 60hp systems we build with great success.

For value.. ask for the double or triple belts onwhatever you buy,
and Remember.. you are buying high-performanceequipment, and it MUST be serviceable, far away from specialty tools or parts,
..and sometimes at night, ..and ALWAYS as a "race against theclock" .. I am sure.

We apply the Pareto Principle into our"choices"..
IF we aim at 100% of perfection, and use the MOSTcost-efficient methods of achieving that perfection,
and add 10 to 20% ofoverkill, especially where the cost is substantially more efficient.
What you really want'' is a VERY Beefy and Abuseable system,
but where it isalso serviceable, and parts are easier-access, and simpler tools can be used,
..and downtime is eliminated faster, and..
Nuf said.</o
<o:p</o
 
If you go V belts, don't get ones made in China, you will regret it real fast. When I built my first rig I did this, belts would barely last a week before I was looking for a new one. Got the exact same belt from Napa, belt last over a year on the exact same setup. The price of the Napa was not much more, but lasted way longer and of course less equipment maintenance time.

I have never tried a poly chain, maybe the next setup I will look into it though.
 
They are compact and long lasting, but they have no 'give' and produce much more side load. I think the correct tension is very important, and much higher. A tech or someone at a blower company told me they do not use them because they are harsh and transmit 'transient torques' to the equipment. Unless you are really going compact I think the lower tension and give, cost and availability of the standard v-belts make them a better choice. This is just what I gathered looking into it, I have never used them and I do think they are cool.
 
They are compact and long lasting, but they have no 'give' and produce much more side load.
I think the correct tension is very important, ..

Good point Tom..
..and a reminder to use more grooves for less side-load tension..
We try to stick with 7hp per belt (gas engine HP)
.. 3 belts on a 23hp motor, and again..
4" diameter pulleys at LEAST.

I saaw 2 machines on one trailer (brand new from a factory in th midwest..)
with 2 belts on a 35hp motor..
I call this an "industrial sin".
..and yeah.. ..the side-load "attempted" at not slipping a 3.75" pulley was just plain stupid.
 
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