it seems to me that gear driven machines pump alittle more psi and gpm than belt with the same specs. has anyone noticed this ?
How many machines have you tested back to back? How did you test the gpm and psi on them? Same engines, water supply, hose length and fittings?
just from what I’ve observed
2 Likes
In general, gear driven systems are more efficient than belt driven systems. You have loss from belt slip with V belts where gears don’t slip. Even cogged belts or timing belts have more losses due to the friction of rubber teeth entering and exiting the pulleys. All belt driven systems generate a lot of heat, this is a dead giveaway you’re losing efficiency. Precision gears will have loses in the form of heat as well, but much less than belts.
exactly
i prefer gear drive, but you have to make sure it doesn’t rust onto the shaft is all.
I wanted to post on my findings. I know this is an old post but I have 2 identical motors and pumps. 2 harbor freight 670s and 2 tsf 2021 8gpm. I bought the diy kits from southside. 1 is the gear box and 1 is the belt. Both have exact same zk1 unloader both exact same tip-tested psi setting at the unloader each unit has its own bulkhead from my buffer tank with each own banjo filter and very similar length of 1in hose. Moral of the story my belt drive gets about 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon more flow than the gear drive. And if ny buffer tank is low the gear drive gets even worse flow. If my ibc is full to the top my belt is way more noticeable stronger. Hope this helps someone. Not sure why I went with 1 and 1. But if the gear box ever goes I will 100% but the tensioner skid and pullys and have 2 belt drives.
I’d be curious to know what gear ratio both your belt pulley and gearbox are using.
