Fix a Torn Conveyor Belt

When production is going full tilt, any signs of fatigue on a conveyor belt will give you an instant headache. If you see a rip or tear that can’t wait until the end of the shift for repair, you’ll have to stop and handle it. Let’s walk through a quick fix.

Step 1. Hot stop and institute safety protocol per your company’s guidelines. (Check out the conveyor belt Safety Spotlight from the September 2019 issue on www.TheAsphaltPro.com for tips.)

Example of bolt hinge splice. Photo courtesy of Flexco

Step 2. Cut your splice straight across the belt.

Step 3. Join the two ends of the belt with either an alligator hinge or the more robust bolt hinge. I prefer the alligator hinges for asphalt mix production. They just work really well for moving the belt around the rollers. Aggregates managers tend to prefer the bolt hinge splice for heavy loads on their belts.

Example of alligator hinge splice. Photo courtesy of Flexco, Downers Grove, Illinois

Step 4. Get back to production.

Step 5. At the end of the day, bring an air hose over to clean off the splice.

Step 6. Apply your coating. For this, we used to use industrial strength caulk that we’d smooth out with a large putty knife. Maybe you’ve been using gutter sealant. Might I suggest a new product on the market: Flex Tape. Flex Seal also offers a good adhesive if you get it on there thick enough. Spread it out and let it set up overnight.

Step 7. Restart in the morning!

A.J. Ronyak is the proprietor of Asphalt Solutions, Cape Coral, Florida, and a veteran asphalt plant operator. For more information, contact him at (623) 853-2273 or nosmellasphalt@msn.com.