Description

Krikit Belt Tension Meter

The Krikit Belt Tension Meter allows determination of proper belt tension, essential for optimum operation of the Gates Carbon Drive system. Lack of belt tension can lead to “skipping”, where the teeth of the belt slide over the teeth of the rear sprocket. On the other hand, too much tension can damage the bearings within the rear hub, can cause the system to drag, and can increase the wear of your drive system.

Tensioning procedures vary depending on the bike. Common types of tensioning systems include sliding or pivoting dropouts and eccentric bottom brackets. Note that correct alignment of the belt has to be maintained as you adjust tension.

There are 3 common methods for measuring tension on your Carbon Drive system: the Gates Krikit Belt Tension Meter, the Eco Tension Tester, and the Gates Carbon Drive iPhone® App (available as a free download through the App Store). For each of these, the tension may vary a little along the belt, so you should repeat this procedure several times. Rotate the cranks a quarter turn after each measurement and measure again. The tools only measure tension, they do not specify a needed tension. Suitable settings will vary with rider weight, so you should refer to this document both for detailed use instructions and the correct tension range recommendation for your Gates Carbon Drive setup.

Use the Gates Drive Calculator to find the perfect fit for your ride.

THREE KEYS WHEN WORKING WITH CARBON DRIVE

HANDLING:

Gates Carbon Drive belts are highly durable and offer long life when properly handled. However, caution must be used before and during installation to avoid damaging the carbon tensile cords. Excessive bending and twisting creates invisible crimps, which can lead to belt breakage.

In handling the belt, you must NOT:

– back bend
– use as a chainwhip
– bundle
– crimp
– twist, or
– invert

ALIGNMENT:

Alignment is critical. Depending on the particular bike and setup, you may therefore need to use spacers to ensure proper alignment. Noise, wear, or belt walk-off can be caused by sprockets that are out of alignment.

TENSIONING:

Finally, proper belt tension is required for optimum drive operation. For frames with vertical dropouts, changing a flat tire will not mean you need to re-tension your belt. Tensioning is also easy with the Gates Carbon Drive iPhone® app (available for free download in the iTunes® App store) or Carbon Drive Krikit Gauge or the ecotension tester (available in Europe). Unusually low tension can cause the belt to skip, thus leading to decreased performance. But don’t over-tension the belt, because this will cause drag and unnecessary wear.

These tension recommendations are a good starting point, which you may need to adjust higher or lower as a result of differing rider size, gear ratios, or power placed on the pedals.