Pulley alignment tool

The present invention relates in general to alignment tools which are to be used to check, measure, or evaluate the extent or degree of alignment (or misalignment) between two or more components. More specifically the present invention relates to alignment tools which mount directly to one or more of the components which are to be aligned, such as V-belt pulleys. As used herein, the reference to a "V-belt" is intended to include traditional V-belt styles as well as poly-V styles and multi-V styles of belts and pulleys. A pulley alignment tool for checking the centerline alignment between a driving pulley and a driven pulley which are connected by a V-belt includes a targeting laser which is constructed and arranged to generate a beam of light which will be directed from a location adjacent the driving pulley to a location on the surface of the driven pulley. The targeting laser is mounted in a holder and the holder is constructed and arranged for attachment into the groove of the driving pulley. As a preliminary step, the V-belt which initially connects the driving pulley and driven pulley is removed, thereby making the driving pulley groove accessible for mounting the holder. An elastic cord is used to encircle the driving pulley and is connected to opposite ends of the holder in order to maintain the holder in a fixed position on the surface of the driving pulley. The targeting laser is used to check the centerline alignment between the driving and driven pulleys. The uppermost edge of the driven pulley is used as one check point and the lowermost edge of the driven pulley is used a second check point. Cooperating support bracketry is used as the means to make adjustments in the position of the driven pulley. All of the required components for the pulley alignment tool are provided as part of a tool alignment kit.