pulley material

I was wondering why there are different materials like aluminum, cast iron, steel and others. thanks

Application, really. The cast zinc and cast aluminum pulleys are light duty. They are rated for FHP (Fractional HorsePower) applications and are not intended nor recommended for uses where they are driven by 1hp and up. When I see guys use them on mowers, I cringe a little. Some folks get lucky, but for the most part, it is a failure waiting to happen.

Steel and cast iron are for heavier duty applications, like ours.

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Application, really. The cast zinc and cast aluminum pulleys are light duty. They are rated for FHP (Fractional HorsePower) applications and are not intended nor recommended for uses where they are driven by 1hp and up. When I see guys use them on mowers, I cringe a little. Some folks get lucky, but for the most part, it is a failure waiting to happen.

Steel and cast iron are for heavier duty applications, like ours.

I ran a 4 inch aluminium pulley on a mower for years and nothing ever happened. I don't think it was cast aluminium though

When you wear out a cast aluminum or zinc pulley, it will take your belt with it... Trust me. I'm speaking from experience. I've destroyed a stamped steel pulley too (took over 10 years), though, so maybe it is a "me" thing...

I would have to say the ultimate pulley would be brass >.> or bronze nice and heavy like cast iron but strong like steel. Could run at a higher rpm than cast iron the pulley on the massey is rated for something around 3200 rpm. Stamped steel is pretty nice but I think itd be prone to separating at the welds after time. Haven't seen a turned steel pulley in a while...

Im using the pulleys off my deck, i think their steel. So far no problems except slippage when wet

With cast Aluminum pullies, or at least the few I've *tried* to run, the edges (on the tips of the V groove) Tend to come apart after a few hours on them. Those edges are almost like serrated blades to that belt.

MatthewD wrote:

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Application, really. The cast zinc and cast aluminum pulleys are light duty. They are rated for FHP (Fractional HorsePower) applications and are not intended nor recommended for uses where they are driven by 1hp and up. When I see guys use them on mowers, I cringe a little. Some folks get lucky, but for the most part, it is a failure waiting to happen.

Steel and cast iron are for heavier duty applications, like ours.

I ran a 4 inch aluminium pulley on a mower for years and nothing ever happened. I don't think it was cast aluminium though

Well- I DID say:

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Some folks get lucky,

@Moose- Glen's has turned steel pulleys fyi