Saw belt tension

[Michael Gibbons]

How tight does a belt on a table saw have to be? Just the other day I looked into the cabinet through the insert hole and noticed that the belt seemed to be loose. I could move it about 1/2 inch with a stick without using much pressure but it doesn't seem to affect the cutting action. It's a Delta Unisaw, couple years old.

[Don Baer]

Michael,
1/2 In is too much. as a rule of thumb the belt tension should equal about 1/2 the the belt width. so if your belt is 1/2 wide the the belt should move about 1/4 inch.