Fan Belt Needed

[Antiquer]

Hi Guys -
I'm working on a 1916 Willys Knight and am having trouble finding a fan belt for it. It takes a flat belt, 1" wide. The minimum length it can be is 31 1/2", while the absolute maximum adjustment for the belt tightener is 33". In the past I've made them out of leather horse reins, but have had trouble with the leather stretching, and the stitching that connects them disintegrating from the oil. I found a Model T supplier on line that listed a 32" belt, but tells me they are out of stock and they don't have any idea when they will receive more of them. If I can find one made of a suitable material to allow it, I can trim the belt down if it is wider. Anybody have any idea of any sources where I might be able to get a suitable belt?
I also need to find an old style cast brass shut off valve to put under the vacuum tank. It was used to shut the fuel off to the carburetor so you wouldn't loose your "prime" and be able to start the car again if the fuel leaked out. I have the original valve, but the handle/lever is broken off of it.
Thanks -
Antiquer

 

[Ray-CA]

Can you substitute a serpentine belt and install it with the smooth side down? At least until you can find an authentic one.

Ray

 

[tdkkart]

Hi Guys -
I'm working on a 1916 Willys Knight and am having trouble finding a fan belt for it. It takes a flat belt, 1" wide. The minimum length it can be is 31 1/2", while the absolute maximum adjustment for the belt tightener is 33".

Sir, would that vehicle have air conditioning??
Is it the SX, or the LE model??
4 doors or 2??
What is the 5th digit of the VIN number??
4 wheel discs or just front wheel??

Sir, I'm sorry, we seem to be out of stock on that item, however our warehouse has it in their computer so we should be able to have it here by the 3rd week of Decenuary...........

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I just love a simple first time poster question.... Welcome to GJ !!!!

For the belt, try a local industrial belting supply company. They might be willing to make one for you when you show them what it is for. I don't think it needs to be rated up to 7,000 RPM for it to work on that engine...

For the shut-off valve, try looking and posting adds on old motorcycle sites and check out some antique plumbing supply houses. They sometimes have smaller old brass valves that were used for fuel shutoffs on fuel oil heating systems.

 

[AkronCRX]

anytime i need an odd belt i go to a local place called akron bearing co. they always what i need and they have a big warehouse full of stuff give them a call im sure they will ship it to you. just give them the dimensions and they will find it

www.akronbearing.com
330-773-6855
1-800-686-9540

 

[Antiquer]

Hi -
Thanks for your suggestion. That would work and be a great on-the-road fix. The only problem is that I'm preparing the car for a show to try for an HPOF classification - Historic Preservation of Original Features. While it would work, there would be points deducted for being a non-original type belt. I have heard of guys doing that though when they are out on tours though. They say it works well.

 

[Antiquer]

Hi tdkkart -
Yes - The car does have "air conditioning" - as there are no doors and no windows! It has a four cylinder sleeve valve engine designed by Charles Knight. It's a pretty fascinating engine. There is no fifth digit to the serial number. The car has two wheel brakes.

 

[Antiquer]

Hi Georgia Hybrid -
Many thanks for your suggestion. I will give that a try.

 

[Antiquer]

Hi Akron CRX -
Many thanks for your reply and the contact info. I will definitely give them a call.

 

[atch]

do you have a shoe repair shop around there that knows their stuff? there's one here that could duplicate the original if he had an old broken original to use for a pattern. maybe you can check into that avenue.

on the valve handle; do you know anyone who works in a machine shop that has sand casting abilities? my brother bought an antique ice box one time that had one of the handles broken. our cousin took it to his work and sand cast a brass duplicate. after the new and old handles were rechromed you couldn't tell which was new and which was old. i bet you could have the piece duplicated like that. of course you 'd have to do some machining after it came out of the mold. if you've got the wherewithall to restore a car that's almost a hundred years old i bet you could handle that. i'm assuming that it's a valve that turns 90* for on/off. if you don't have the part of the handle that's broken off they would just have to guess about the shape.

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

This sounds like a question for Old Car Guy. I would PM him on this site. He is the resident expert on this type of question.

 

[krooser]

Try some of these...
http://www.restorationspecialties.com/
http://www.northwesternautosupply.com/
http://www.kanter.com/

 

[STClurker]

sounds like an interesting vehicle

 

[OldCarGuy]

Hi Guys -
I'm working on a 1916 Willys Knight and am having trouble finding a fan belt for it. It takes a flat belt, 1" wide. The minimum length it can be is 31 1/2", while the absolute maximum adjustment for the belt tightener is 33". In the past I've made them out of leather horse reins, but have had trouble with the leather stretching, and the stitching that connects them disintegrating from the oil. I found a Model T supplier on line that listed a 32" belt, but tells me they are out of stock and they don't have any idea when they will receive more of them. If I can find one made of a suitable material to allow it, I can trim the belt down if it is wider. Anybody have any idea of any sources where I might be able to get a suitable belt?
I also need to find an old style cast brass shut off valve to put under the vacuum tank. It was used to shut the fuel off to the carburetor so you wouldn't loose your "prime" and be able to start the car again if the fuel leaked out. I have the original valve, but the handle/lever is broken off of it.
Thanks -
Antiquer

Have you tried Snyder’s for the belt?
http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/search.php?q=fan+belt&x=0&y=0

Restoration supply in Arizona may carry the petcock you’re looking for. I don’t believe that they have a website.

Here’s another place to look.
http://www.restorationstuff.com/index.htm

If you can describe the type of cast valve you’re looking for. Straight, 90 degree, 1/4 NPT... I may have what you’re looking for in my stash...

I second the motion that you post pictures!

I assume that your Knight has sleeve valves. Rebuilding that engines takes a lot of special care. Experience dictates the proper tolerances needed to keep them from burning too much oil. Not enough clearance, they’ll seize up when the engine’s operating temperature rises.