Pulleys

Industrial Pulleys & Sheaves — V-Belt, Timing, Idler & Taper Lock

A pulley (also called a sheave) is the grooved wheel that drives or is driven by a belt — the core component of every belt-driven power transmission system from a workshop pedestal drill to a major industrial fan, conveyor or pump drive. AIMS Industrial stocks a comprehensive pulley range covering V-belt sheaves, synchronous timing pulleys, idler pulleys and matching taper lock bushes from the brands specified across Australian manufacturing, agriculture, mining and general industry.

Pulley Types — At a Glance

• V-belt pulleys (sheaves) — single, dual and multi-groove V-section pulleys in A, B, C, SPA, SPB, SPC and SPZ/Z profiles. Available in pilot bore, bored-and-keyed and taper lock configurations.
• Timing pulleys — precision synchronous pulleys for positive (non-slip) drives. HTD (3M, 5M, 8M, 14M), T5, T10, XL, L and H series.
• Idler pulleys — flat and V-groove tensioning pulleys for belt drive tension and routing. Single-row and double-row bearing configurations.
• Specialty & brand pulleys — Gates PolyChain GT sprockets for high-torque applications, Aetna pulleys for general industrial duty.

For type selection, sizing and the differences between sheave profiles, see the Pulley Types Guide.

V-Belt Pulleys

V-belt pulleys are the most common industrial drive pulley, available across the major belt sections used in Australia:

• Classical sections (A, B, C, D, E): the original V-belt profiles, still widely used in older equipment and general industrial applications.
• Narrow / wedge sections (SPA, SPB, SPC, SPZ): higher power density in a smaller envelope — the modern default for new drive designs.
• Multi-rib (Poly-V) and PolyChain GT sprockets for high-torque or high-speed applications.

Pulleys are available in pilot bore (drilled to size on installation), bored and keyed (delivered ready to fit a specific shaft), and taper lock (industry-standard system using a separate taper lock bush for shaft mounting). Taper lock is the preferred configuration for most industrial applications — fast installation, accurate centralisation, no specialised tooling required for removal.

For belt sizing, profile identification and how to measure an existing belt for replacement, see V-Belt Sizing & Identification and V-Belt: How to Measure Like a Pro.

Timing Pulleys

Synchronous timing pulleys engage the teeth on a timing belt for positive, slip-free power transmission — used wherever accurate timing matters (CNC machines, packaging equipment, indexing tables, automotive engine drives). AIMS stocks the major profiles:

• HTD curvilinear: 3M, 5M, 8M and 14M pitches. The modern standard for industrial synchronous drives.
• Imperial trapezoidal: XL (0.200" pitch), L (0.375"), H (0.500") for legacy and OEM applications.
• Metric trapezoidal: T5 (5mm), T10 (10mm) for European-spec equipment.

For timing belt selection alongside the matching pulley, see the Synchronous Timing Belt Guide. For deciding between belt and chain drive in a new installation, see Choosing Between Belt and Chain Drives.

Idler Pulleys

Idler pulleys take up belt slack, change belt direction, increase wrap angle on a small drive sheave, or maintain consistent tension on a vibrating drive. Flat idlers for the back of the belt; V-groove idlers for the belt face. Single and double-row bearing configurations to suit drive tension and speed.

Calculating Pulley Ratios & Speed

Driven pulley speed = drive speed × (drive diameter ÷ driven diameter). A 100mm drive pulley spinning at 1,800 RPM connected to a 200mm driven pulley turns at 900 RPM. For the full formula with worked examples — and the rule of thumb for changing pulley sizes to gain speed or torque — see the Pulley Speed Ratio Calculator & Formula guide. For variable-speed and CVT-style multi-speed belt drives, see the Variable Speed Belt Guide.

How to Choose the Right Pulley

• Belt section: the pulley groove must match the V-belt profile (A, B, SPA, SPB etc.) or timing belt pitch and tooth count. Mismatched profiles cause premature belt failure.
• Drive ratio: the ratio of drive to driven pulley diameter sets the output speed and torque multiplication.
• Bore method: pilot bore (for in-house machining), bored and keyed (ready-to-fit) or taper lock (interchangeable bush system).
• Material: cast iron for heavy industrial duty; aluminium for lighter applications, lower inertia and higher speeds.
• Number of grooves: single or multi-groove for higher power transmission with the same belt section.

Brand Pulleys

• Gates — 431 lines. Industry-leading belts, pulleys and PolyChain GT systems.
• Aetna — 36 lines. Pulley and sheave specialist.
• Finer Power Transmissions — 225 lines. Broad PT component range including pulleys.

Related Power Transmission Components

• Belts — V-belts, timing belts and the full belt range.
• Industrial V-Belts and Industrial Timing Belts.
• Taper Lock Bushes for shaft mounting.
• Bearings and Bearing Housings for shaft support.
• Roller Chain — alternative drive type, especially for high-shock or wet/dirty environments.
• Shaft Coupling Guide and Flexible Coupling Guide for shaft-to-shaft connections within a drive system.
• FRAS belt FAQ — fire-resistant anti-static belts for mining and explosive-atmosphere applications.

Order Pulleys from AIMS Industrial

AIMS Industrial stocks pulleys from leading brands across all major belt sections and profiles. For pulley specification help, drive design calculations, or sourcing an unusual size, contact our technical team — we ship Australia-wide from our Sydney warehouse.