Feed Belt Maintenance: Maximize your feed belt longevity
Caring for and Maintaining Your Live Bottom Feed Belt
The live bottom feed belt on the slinger is the workhorse of the unit. Whether you're running as a traditional slinger, perhaps doing onsite reloading, or simply as a live bottom, this specialized conveyor system keeps material moving steadily and reliably. But like any hardworking piece of equipment, it demands proper care to perform at its best. Here's what you need to know about keeping your live bottom feed belt in top condition.
Understanding the Live Bottom Belt
The CanAmerican live bottom system uses a 2 ply rubber belt installed along a high performance roller conveyor chain. This belt is fastened along the chain on steel cross slats, which are welded with scraping angle irons mounted to increase friction resistance and prevent material slippage . The belt carries material forward until it reaches the discharge point.
The design is particularly valuable for handling materials that tend to tangle or bridge—everything from biomass straw to challenging aggregates can be fed consistently without the jamming issues common to other systems .
The Golden Rule: Keep It Clean
If there's one piece of advice that extends conveyor life more than any other, it's this: keep the belt clean . This means paying attention to areas operators often overlook—the underside of the belt, the belt chain, and the skirting .
Contamination on conveyor belts is more than an eyesore. Caking and material buildup can drive up maintenance costs and even cause costly equipment downtime . When material carries back on the return side of the belt, it can seize rollers, accelerate belt wear, and lead to the loss of valuable material and processing time .
Building a Cleaning Strategy
Effective cleaning of a live bottom belt typically requires a multi-stage approach.
Primary cleaning starts at the discharge point, where the primary belt cleaner removes the bulk of material transferred onto the discharge area . This well-designed scraper system effectively cleans stubborn, large adhering materials from the belt. Ensure the plastic scraper is adjusted accordingly to scrape hard against the belt rubber, and check that the spring elasticity is still effective.
Rubber skirting is also instrumental to keeping the belt chain clean, and also reduces loss of materials. The skirting should not have any tears or holes in it, and must sit down flat against the belt rubber. CanAmerican has introduced a new skirting design recently that increases the life of the skirting, while also providing a far superior seal.
Secondary cleaning consists of cleaning out the underside of the body, when necessary. Typically this type of cleaning only needs to be carried out on an occasional basis, and should be left up to the discretion of the operators or service technicians. Removing the end discharge cover plates and inspecting the chain for material buildup should be carried out once every 2-3 weeks. When running particularly corrosive materials, such as salt, this cleaning process should be greatly expedited. Note: running corrosive materials can only be accomplished when the body has been manufactured with a special corrosive protection spray.
Choose the Right Lubrication for Your Chain
Not all chain lubricants are effective at keeping the feed belt chain properly lubricated. Products like WD-40 are great in the moment, but only provide temporary help. While great to have in your garage cupboard for around-the-house jobs, WD-40 quickly washes off the chain once in motion. It is important to use a grease or oil that is thicker and has the opportunity to get into the chain rollers.
We recommend using a 00 grease. This grease consistency is thick enough to adhere to the chain, but still loose enough to get into tighter spots that also require lubrication. .
CanAmerican also offers a Feed Belt Oiler system for consistent chain lubrication. This system consists of a reservoir that sprays the belt chain as it is in motion only. There is a kit that we offer that can be installed onsite. For more information, give our sales team a call!
Beyond Cleaning: System Checks
While cleaning is paramount, a comprehensive maintenance routine includes other essential checks:
Monitor belt tension: Regular inspection prevents slack that can lead to belt damage and ensure proper tracking
Check drive components: The 2 speed motor and gearbox are to be properly lubricated and operating within temperature ranges. Gearbox oil changes should be carried out according to the Operator's Manual
Look for wear patterns: Uneven wear can indicate tracking issues or problems with the cleaning system
The Bottom Line
A well-maintained live bottom feed belt delivers reliable, consistent material flow day after day. The effort you put into cleaning and inspection translates directly into longer belt life, fewer breakdowns, and lower overall operating costs. With the right maintenance schedule and proper use of the belt and beam system, you'll keep material moving—and avoid the headaches of unexpected downtime.