What is a possible cause of a cracked pulley?

A cracked pulley can result from improper installation, which may include issues like misalignment or incorrect mounting. When a pulley is not installed correctly, it can experience uneven stress or loads that can lead to cracks over time. For instance, if a pulley is misaligned, it may not rotate smoothly, causing additional wear and tear on the material. This can result in fatigue failure, where cracks develop due to repeated stress cycles, ultimately leading to a compromised pulley structure. Proper installation is crucial to ensure that the pulley functions as intended without excessive strain.

In contrast, while over-tightening and incorrect material choice can lead to failures, they typically manifest in other ways or under different circumstances. Excessive cleaning does not generally contribute directly to structural integrity issues unless it involves damaging the surface or altering material properties chemically.