Excessive heat in a belt-drive system most commonly causes belt stretch and slip. Which corrective actions are appropriate?

• A. It has no effect on belt performance
• B. Heat causes belt stretch and slip; reduce load/speed, re-tension, or replace worn belts
• C. It improves belt grip and increases life
• D. It only affects pulley alignment, not belt wear

Answer: (B)

Excessive heat causes belt material to lose tension as it expands and the surface may degrade, which leads to slippage under load. To correct this, reduce the heat source by lowering the load or speed, allow the belt to cool, then re-tension it to restore proper grip. If the belt has stretched or shows wear, replace it, because a stretched belt won’t hold tension reliably even after retensioning. This combination tackles the root issue: less heat generation prevents further loss of grip, and restoring tension or replacing worn belts returns the system to proper operation.