Lathe Belt

[2mJps]

My flat leather belt broke today on my 13inch South Bend. It broke last year at the end were the metal splice is and thats were it broke agin. It was on there when i got it 20 years ago. There is a place in Kansas city were i got one for something else and it was very high. On some of my other machines i am useing other stuff for belts like on my shaper i found a wide belt that is a cog belt which i run inside out. I found a belt that is pretty hard and made one but it slips easy. Is there any thing else that would work good? It is 1 1/2 wide and a little over 36inch long.

 

[454ragtop]

John Knox from the Sheldon lathe group operates this http://leatherdrivebelts.com/ Have heard nothing but good things.
HTH, Jim

 

[Packard V8]

He makes great belts. One for your lathe would be about $50 delivered.

jack vines

 

[A_Pmech]

You can buy belting by the foot from McMaster. Then buy some clips and a lacer and you're good to go.

 

[justanengineer]

If youve got any decent ag stores locally Id try asking in them. Lacing supplies arent all that unusual, Ive even seen them in TSC and Rural King upon occasion.

 

[rlitman]

I've found that the hinge clips running over the pulleys adds marks to my work.

Catgut lacing is better. There are special patterns that have the lacing run parallel to the belt on the underside and cross over on top. Crossing underneath will break the lacing.

But personally a glued continuous belt I by far the best. Most say to use "barge cement" but I've had good luck with flexible cyanoacrylate.

 

[gtermini]

Run a surpentine belt with the grooves out and lace it with heavy fishing line. You'll never go back to leather.

Relevant Link

Greyson

 

[spongerich]

Lots of guys are using automotive serpentine belts with good results.

Drop in to your local auto repair shop and you can probably pickup a used one for free. Even one that's far too worn for a car will work fine on a lathe.

Cut it a couple inches long and create a scarf joint with a belt sander and glue it with cyanoacrylate gel.

 

[A_Pmech]

If you're going to use a serpentine belt don't cut it! Just remove the spindle, install the belt and put it back together. It's a South Bend, it's not a complicated job.

 

[Tim338]

Get a hold of this guy. http://www.flatdrivebelts-anysize.com/index.html Have done business with him in the past and his customer service is the best and really fast turn around.

 

[lilredex]

One more take on gluing up serpentine belts..

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/th...nd-Belt-Replacement?highlight=serpentine belt

 

[2mJps]

I have thought about the serpentine belt but the ones cars run are not as wide as i would like. I have some that i have saved maybe one would work ok. There is some truck shops i will check out to see if they would have any thing wider. The hard ware store here has the aligater metal splices.

 

[lmwilco1]

I also used a serpentine belt on my 13" South Bend lathe. I never got a glue joint that worked well so I ended up drilling holes small holes in both ends and laced the joint with synthetic fishing line. The belt works a lot better than the old leather belt. I can get the part number off of the belt if you want.

Louis

 

[2mJps]

I also used a serpentine belt on my 13" South Bend lathe. I never got a glue joint that worked well so I ended up drilling holes small holes in both ends and laced the joint with synthetic fishing line. The belt works a lot better than the old leather belt. I can get the part number off of the belt if you want.

Louis

Yes i would like the parts number. How wide is it? What drive system does yours have? My lathe was run on a overhead lineshaft and now it has a made up drive that is bolted to the back and uses this belt for the clutch. Also how many holes did you make in it to lace it together?

 

[lmwilco1]

I used a Napa 25-100655 9 rib belt. It is about 1.5" wide and I drilled 1 hole in each valley where the rib on the pulley would go. My lathe has the motor in the pedestal under the headstock.

Louis

 

[spongerich]

A serpentine belt has a lot more traction than a leather one, so you don't need it to be as wide as your original The cone pulleys are convex, so the belt will self-center just fine.

 

[2mJps]

I used a Napa 25-100655 9 rib belt. It is about 1.5" wide and I drilled 1 hole in each valley where the rib on the pulley would go. My lathe has the motor in the pedestal under the headstock.

Louis

I will check on one at the parts store tomorrow. I may also try a 1" belt i have some used ones. Thanks every one.

 

[kyrbz]

My flat leather belt broke today on my 13inch South Bend. It broke last year at the end were the metal splice is and thats were it broke agin. It was on there when i got it 20 years ago. There is a place in Kansas city were i got one for something else and it was very high. On some of my other machines i am useing other stuff for belts like on my shaper i found a wide belt that is a cog belt which i run inside out. I found a belt that is pretty hard and made one but it slips easy. Is there any thing else that would work good? It is 1 1/2 wide and a little over 36inch long.

It's possible the place in Kansas City you bought your belt from was Skates Belting on SW Blvd. Several years ago the owner passed away. His daughter took over the business but she really has been just trying to get rid of decades of old inventory. I always loved going there. The owner was a super nice guy that loved telling me stories about KC in the "old" days. It's was a real time capsule stepping in there. Up until not so long ago they always were dragging out piles of NOS inventory from the 40's 50's 60's & 70's. In addition to belts, and sanding supplies, they used to sell lots of hand tools, hardware, and other misc. hardware store items and tools. The last few times I've been in, there is very little left. Recently it's seldom open and I'm guessing in the near future it will be permanently closed and the building for sale.

 

[HMCFab9]

Go to a farm grain elevator if you are anywhere near one.
They are still using those types of belts & have the materials to make a new one or repair yours.
My dad needed one for his lathe several years ago & went to the local feed mill.
They had it fixed on about an hour & didn't charge much to do it.