Idler against the back of a V belt?

[LKJR]

any reason you couldn't put an idler / tensioner against the back of a V belt? I know that's how they run on the serp setups but it's a lot different belt design. Planning my OBA and OB Welder brackets and just thinking I could make them fixed real easy and put an adjustable idler between to use as a tensioner.

 

[diesel4me]

Why not?? Every riding mower I've ever fixed and many other lawn and garden implements use an idler pulley to tighten the belt for a "clutch"---the only thing you would want to use a v-belt rated for backside idler use,like a gates "green stripe"--dayco makes fractional horsepower belts too.Regular belts will work,but wont last as long. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[big83chevy4x4]

what he said about getting a belt thats made for bending backwards.