D
Doc - Riverside
Guest
Thanks to SL Member "larryd" he sent me a interesting link to Gates Belts for Bicycles. They use carbon flat belts on some high end bicycles like we have on the SPYDER. As I have a Gates 507C sonic meter, an IPOD Touch for music on my SPYDER and an IPAD ( don't have a IPHONE) it was time to install the APP on both and head for the shop for some testing.
The APP only measures Frequency of the belt when it is tapped. The Gates Meter also has the ability to measure Frequency. So with the rear wheel jacked up and the mic for the Gate Meter positioned 1/2 inch off the belt with my jig I was able to tap the belt with a small ball peen hammer, take a measurement and do a comparison. First I did the Gates Meter to the IPOD and then I did the same for the IPAD
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Gates 507C[/TD]
[TD]IPOD[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Gates 507C[/TD]
[TD]IPAD[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]28.2hz[/TD]
[TD]28.7hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]28.2hz[/TD]
[TD]28.0hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]28.2hz[/TD]
[TD]28.9hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]28.2hz[/TD]
[TD]28.3hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]28.2hz[/TD]
[TD]28.5hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]28.4hz[/TD]
[TD]28.4hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


As you can see the data collected looks very good. Gates recommends that a external mic be used instead of the built in mic. The type of mic I would suggest would be on that has a long cable attached that plugs in to the device. That way you can make some kind of jig to hold the mic 1/2 inch away from the belt. This will give you a very consistent reading as you rotate the wheel to a new position and tape it ( the mic doesn't move between readings) .
The only draw back to using the APP is it will not measure a frequency below 20hz. This will only effect the minimum tension for doing the belt tension spec of 450n +/- 150n.
OK !!!!!!!!!!!! Now we have a way of reading the frequency of the belt when tapped what can we do with it.
The formula in the Gates Manual for figuring the Tension of the belt in Newtons is: T[SUB]Newtons[/SUB]= 4 x M x W x S[SUP]2[/SUP] x F[SUP]2[/SUP] x 1e10[SUP]-9[/SUP] . Well I would suspect that Bob is totally lost and is ready to go find a good book, But bare with me Grasshopper. There are now two belts that are now used on the SPYDER. One belt covers the V-Twin engine/Drive train and the other is for the 1330 engine/Drive train.
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Engine[/TD]
[TD]Mass (M)[/TD]
[TD]Width (W)[/TD]
[TD] Span (S)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]V-Twin[/TD]
[TD]8.4 g/m[/TD]
[TD]28.0 mm[/TD]
[TD]1028 mm[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ACE 1330[/TD]
[TD]8.0 g/m[/TD]
[TD]28.0 mm[/TD]
[TD]980 mm[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
The above values have to be programed into the Gates meter so the Tech at the dealer can tension your belt properly according to the spec for your SPYDER. But what would happen if the wrong set was selected for your belt and the tech tensioned your belt anyhow. Roger and I did an experiment as he has a 2010 RT and a Gates Meter and I have the 2014 RT and a gates meter. This is the results we got using the above parameters.
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]V-Twin (Span 1028mm)[/TD]
[TD]ACE 1330 (Span 980mm)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Roger 2010 RT[/TD]
[TD]535n[/TD]
[TD]431n[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Doc 2014 RT[/TD]
[TD]1054n[/TD]
[TD]886n[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Roger's belt spec is 450n +/-150n and you can see that his belt is in spec using both parameters. My belt spec is 1050n +/-150n is in spec using the V-Twin belt data but just below spec for the ACE 1330 belt. The data is close and mistakes can be made setting up the meter and you wouldn't know it.
OK now lets really make this simple so all you have to do is get a frequency reading and convert it to Tension in Newtons. If we plug the above belt data into the formula we come up with two number that are constant. So now all one has to do is take the frequency, square it and multiply it by the constant for your belt configuration.
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Belt[/TD]
[TD]Constant[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]V-Twin (Span 1028mm)[/TD]
[TD].99422[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ACE 1330 (Span 980mm)[/TD]
[TD].86052[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Constant x F[SUP]2[/SUP] = Tension[SUB]Newtons[/SUB]
Expected Frequency Range one should see based on belt tension for your Model SPYDER. Keep in Mind the APP will not give you a reading below 20hz (it displays <20.0hz)
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]V-Twin Belt All Models (Years 2008 - 2012)[/TD]
[TD]Min (300n)[/TD]
[TD]Spec (450n)[/TD]
[TD]Max (600N)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Belt Spec 450+/-150n Frequency range[/TD]
[TD]17.37hz[/TD]
[TD]21.27hz[/TD]
[TD]24.56hz[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]V-Twin Belt All Models (2013) and RS/ST (Year 2014)
[/TD]
[TD]Min (900n)[/TD]
[TD]Spec (1050n)[/TD]
[TD]Max (1200n)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Belt Spec 1050+/-150n Frequency range[/TD]
[TD]30.09hz[/TD]
[TD]32.5hz[/TD]
[TD]34.74hz[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]ACE 1330 Belt Model RT (2014)[/TD]
[TD]Min (900n)[/TD]
[TD]Spec (1050n)[/TD]
[TD]Max (1200n)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Belt Spec 1050+/- 150n Frequency range[/TD]
[TD]32.34hz[/TD]
[TD]34.93hz[/TD]
[TD]37.34hz[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
The gates site is http://www.carbondrivesystems.com/products/accessoriesandtools (bottom right corner)
You can also go to Apple APPs and do a search on Gates Corporation
Yes most of the various parts of the APP are dealing with a bicycle it doesn't matter. We want the frequency of the tapped belt.
The APP only measures Frequency of the belt when it is tapped. The Gates Meter also has the ability to measure Frequency. So with the rear wheel jacked up and the mic for the Gate Meter positioned 1/2 inch off the belt with my jig I was able to tap the belt with a small ball peen hammer, take a measurement and do a comparison. First I did the Gates Meter to the IPOD and then I did the same for the IPAD
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Gates 507C[/TD]
[TD]IPOD[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Gates 507C[/TD]
[TD]IPAD[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]28.2hz[/TD]
[TD]28.7hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]28.2hz[/TD]
[TD]28.0hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]28.2hz[/TD]
[TD]28.9hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]28.2hz[/TD]
[TD]28.3hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]28.2hz[/TD]
[TD]28.5hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]28.4hz[/TD]
[TD]28.4hz[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


As you can see the data collected looks very good. Gates recommends that a external mic be used instead of the built in mic. The type of mic I would suggest would be on that has a long cable attached that plugs in to the device. That way you can make some kind of jig to hold the mic 1/2 inch away from the belt. This will give you a very consistent reading as you rotate the wheel to a new position and tape it ( the mic doesn't move between readings) .
The only draw back to using the APP is it will not measure a frequency below 20hz. This will only effect the minimum tension for doing the belt tension spec of 450n +/- 150n.
OK !!!!!!!!!!!! Now we have a way of reading the frequency of the belt when tapped what can we do with it.
The formula in the Gates Manual for figuring the Tension of the belt in Newtons is: T[SUB]Newtons[/SUB]= 4 x M x W x S[SUP]2[/SUP] x F[SUP]2[/SUP] x 1e10[SUP]-9[/SUP] . Well I would suspect that Bob is totally lost and is ready to go find a good book, But bare with me Grasshopper. There are now two belts that are now used on the SPYDER. One belt covers the V-Twin engine/Drive train and the other is for the 1330 engine/Drive train.
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Engine[/TD]
[TD]Mass (M)[/TD]
[TD]Width (W)[/TD]
[TD] Span (S)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]V-Twin[/TD]
[TD]8.4 g/m[/TD]
[TD]28.0 mm[/TD]
[TD]1028 mm[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ACE 1330[/TD]
[TD]8.0 g/m[/TD]
[TD]28.0 mm[/TD]
[TD]980 mm[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
The above values have to be programed into the Gates meter so the Tech at the dealer can tension your belt properly according to the spec for your SPYDER. But what would happen if the wrong set was selected for your belt and the tech tensioned your belt anyhow. Roger and I did an experiment as he has a 2010 RT and a Gates Meter and I have the 2014 RT and a gates meter. This is the results we got using the above parameters.
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]V-Twin (Span 1028mm)[/TD]
[TD]ACE 1330 (Span 980mm)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Roger 2010 RT[/TD]
[TD]535n[/TD]
[TD]431n[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Doc 2014 RT[/TD]
[TD]1054n[/TD]
[TD]886n[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Roger's belt spec is 450n +/-150n and you can see that his belt is in spec using both parameters. My belt spec is 1050n +/-150n is in spec using the V-Twin belt data but just below spec for the ACE 1330 belt. The data is close and mistakes can be made setting up the meter and you wouldn't know it.
OK now lets really make this simple so all you have to do is get a frequency reading and convert it to Tension in Newtons. If we plug the above belt data into the formula we come up with two number that are constant. So now all one has to do is take the frequency, square it and multiply it by the constant for your belt configuration.
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Belt[/TD]
[TD]Constant[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]V-Twin (Span 1028mm)[/TD]
[TD].99422[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ACE 1330 (Span 980mm)[/TD]
[TD].86052[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Constant x F[SUP]2[/SUP] = Tension[SUB]Newtons[/SUB]
Expected Frequency Range one should see based on belt tension for your Model SPYDER. Keep in Mind the APP will not give you a reading below 20hz (it displays <20.0hz)
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]V-Twin Belt All Models (Years 2008 - 2012)[/TD]
[TD]Min (300n)[/TD]
[TD]Spec (450n)[/TD]
[TD]Max (600N)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Belt Spec 450+/-150n Frequency range[/TD]
[TD]17.37hz[/TD]
[TD]21.27hz[/TD]
[TD]24.56hz[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]V-Twin Belt All Models (2013) and RS/ST (Year 2014)
[/TD]
[TD]Min (900n)[/TD]
[TD]Spec (1050n)[/TD]
[TD]Max (1200n)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Belt Spec 1050+/-150n Frequency range[/TD]
[TD]30.09hz[/TD]
[TD]32.5hz[/TD]
[TD]34.74hz[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]ACE 1330 Belt Model RT (2014)[/TD]
[TD]Min (900n)[/TD]
[TD]Spec (1050n)[/TD]
[TD]Max (1200n)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Belt Spec 1050+/- 150n Frequency range[/TD]
[TD]32.34hz[/TD]
[TD]34.93hz[/TD]
[TD]37.34hz[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
The gates site is http://www.carbondrivesystems.com/products/accessoriesandtools (bottom right corner)
You can also go to Apple APPs and do a search on Gates Corporation
Yes most of the various parts of the APP are dealing with a bicycle it doesn't matter. We want the frequency of the tapped belt.
Last edited: