Gates Safely Install & Rotate Transmission Belts

The Gates BIRD™ (Belt Installation + Rotation Device) protects operators’ hands and fingers from pinch-point injuries when a locked-out drive needs to be rotated for inspection or maintenance. Before the BIRD, technicians had to pull on the belt or grab the pulley or sprocket edges to turn the drive by hand — a split-second lapse is all it takes to get a hand or finger pulled into a pinch point. The BIRD’s switchable on/off magnets clamp it to the drive components, and its aluminium handles let one operator rotate the drive safely, hands well clear of the nip points.

Where this product is used

The Gates BIRD is a workshop safety tool, not a belt itself. Typical uses include:

• Rotating a locked-out V-belt or synchronous belt drive by hand for inspection
• Belt installation and removal on drives with restricted finger access to the belt span
• General maintenance work where hands need to stay clear of pulley, sheave or sprocket pinch points

Key specifications

Selecting the right option

The BIRD suits any locked-out V-belt or synchronous belt drive where a technician needs to rotate the drive by hand — it doesn’t replace lockout/tagout procedure, it protects hands during the rotation step itself. Gates also offers the EZ Align laser alignment tools and the Sonic Tension Meter as complementary preventive-maintenance tools. Contact AIMS for the full Gates maintenance tool range.