How should the re-drive belt tension be checked. I think I heard the belt should not deflect more than 1/4" when pushed with your thumb. I'm quite sure mine is at least that tight.
Since my first engine spun a rear main, and had a flat spot on the top, I hesitate to put an excessive amount of pressure on this one. It has worked ok until today, and it still seems about as tight as it was last time I checked it.
Today I took a buddy and went for a about a one mile run in the Aircat. It went good until I decided to turn around and head back. The wind came up a bit by that time.
As we were turning the boat came off plane, and would not plane out again. The engine would still turn about 3,300 rpm, but we went all the way back at about 5 mph into a 10 mph wind.
I don't know what could cause that problem other than belt slippage, but we checked out the belt tension as soon as we got back, and It seemed to be plenty tight.
Do I just crank up the tension and hope the rear mains holds up, er what
Dave
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