Gear Box VS Belt Drive

Rance

Rance

Active member
Can someone explain to me (besides the obvious) the difference between a specific pump being belt driven and driven either direct or through a gearbox? Example we run a TS 2021 pump and it's driven through a gearbox. Would there be any difference in performance if it were belt driven? Which do you prefer and why?
 
All the gear boxes I ever had leaked from one place or another. I finally converted over to belt drive and haven't had really any problems.
 
Belt drive is easier on your pump with less RPM's. Also your supposed to be able to pull water better with a belt drive vs a non belt drive.


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He's talking about belt drive versus gear drive, pump spins at same RPM in both systems, I preffer myself gearbox because of smaller footprint, but i think belt drive is more reliable.
 
Chris Dubbs said:
Belt drive is easier on your pump with less RPM's. Also your supposed to be able to pull water better with a belt drive vs a non belt drive.


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How is a pump to run less RPM's because it is belt driven and maintain the same GPM & PSI if that same pump is driven through a gearbox? Also what is different about that same pump pulling water better because it's belt driven?
 
Rance said:
How is a pump to run less RPM's because it is belt driven and maintain the same GPM & PSI if that same pump is driven through a gearbox? Also what is different about that same pump pulling water better because it's belt driven?
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The two will perform equally. The size ratio on the belts determines the rpms, as does the ratio in the gearbox.
 
Russ Johnson said:
The two will perform equally. The size ratio on the belts determines the rpms, as does the ratio in the gearbox.
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Exactly Russ. The ratio's you mention are for engine RPM not Pump RPM. A pump has a specific RPM to produce a specific GPM & PSI. It does not matter if it's driven by a belt or through a gear box it still has to maintain that specific RPM. EX: The TS2021 has to run 1450 RPM to produce 5.5 GPM @ 3500PSI. If the RPM is lower then so will GPM & PSI. Engine RPM's are different. They are determined by the size ratio of the pulley or gears. I have read some threads on the boards and it seems some are under the impression that the pump can run at lower RPM's to perform when in fact it can not. I hope this clears up any misunderstanding for some.
 
Belts have give, which is easier on the system. Less heat and vibration going to pump with belts. I think the gear drives are great and compact, but they seem to have problems with larger pumps.
 
Pumps are designed to run certain rpm's to achieve the desired psi and gpm it doesn't matter how its driven as long as it makes its rpm but you need the right hp to develop the rated pressure. We run two 8 gpms and a 7 gpm on gear drives and don't have any problems. We are putting a 10 gpm and another 8 gpm in service next week both with gear drives don't anticipate any trouble. We only have one belt drive left and that is a pressure pro with the polydrive belt that is the only kind of belt system we woud go back too.
 
greg/sd said:
Pumps are designed to run certain rpm's to achieve the desired psi and gpm it doesn't matter how its driven as long as it makes its rpm but you need the right hp to develop the rated pressure. We run two 8 gpms and a 7 gpm on gear drives and don't have any problems. We are putting a 10 gpm and another 8 gpm in service next week both with gear drives don't anticipate any trouble. We only have one belt drive left and that is a pressure pro with the polydrive belt that is the only kind of belt system we woud go back too.
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What brand machines are you using that are 8 & 10 gpm that are gear driven. I like my gear drive and see no need to go to belt drive.
 
My gear drives were trouble at 9 and 10 gpm. With just a slip on fit to the engine shaft, chewed keyways are a common complaint. The engine that didn't chew the keyway to unusable was seized to the pump, which was probably a good thing. The set screw holding the gear inside the box would not stay in ever, but it still worked, just the gear would slide forward and wore into the pump boltheads just slightly. Once the pump bolts snapped and the pump just fell off. These were 40 lb pumps. I really like the compactness and no moving parts exposed but I would not go back unless there was a new design.
 
They seem to go under different names like general and interpump. They were the heavy duty model at espec. I believe the brand was PA, but it was identical to, I think, General and another one.
 
The unit I run was purchased new in 1989 from an equipment company in St. Louis. My father bought it for the company we both worked for to "green cut" concrete. They used it 2 times and decided it was to small for the job and kept it in the warehouse. Well my father ended up with it and now I have it. It has never been taken apart for any reason and has always been well maintained. The gear box doesn't leak oil either. Never has. I run 30 wght non detergent oil in it and change it more often than I should. I'm sure gear boxes made these days aren't as heavy built as the one I have but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.
 
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