BELT TENSION New grinder

[hellgap]

How much tension should you have on the belt without putting to much stress on the bearings???? My spring is real heavey duty as im sure most are, I have to lean on it pretty good to get it off. this is how i started off cuzz i know sqwat . I extended the tool rest with the belt on and pulled it snug took a pencil drew a line on the tooling bar where it slides inside the frame. THen i took the belt off and slide it out about 1/2 a inch and i think that was too much so i backed it off to 1/4 inch .I have about 5/8 of an ich of deflection of the sanding belt from the tool rest when it has presure on it in the normal position then i depress it with my thumb and get about that 5/8 deflection . the belt seems to track nice but i do know if i have the proper tension the belts will last longer and the bearing will too . Any help is much appreciated. I played with a filleting knife thats 3/4 finished and ground the handle for 5 min I did both sides and it usta take me 40 min if not longer. wow. kellyw

 

[hellgap]

I miss worded the part about tool rest . I actually measuered from the tool rest to the belt in the normal and then depressed to find out the deflection.