Drive belt stitching advice

[6ply]

If the pulleys are crowned (as they should be) just use a a-section vee belt turned inside out. I used one like that before and it ran fine.

 

[Prajna]

What you're after is a Sailmaker's Awl. Search for 'speedystitcher'. It is like a woodworker's awl but has a bobbin in the handle and a channelled needle with an eye. Fantastic for stitching all kinds of heavyweight materials.

 

[winchman]

When I was an apprentice we had a machine you put the two ends in the flat belt it then wound a spring in to join the ends.
Never seen another. This any use?

Stitching a Flat Belt for Machinery - Woodshop Mike

If you follow my social media feeds, you may know that I’ve recently acquired an old metal lathe, a Logan model 200 to be precise. And, if you’ve spent much time around the blog, you’ve probably seen the various old tools I have and may have guessed that I love old machinery. They truly don’t […]

woodshopmike.com

 

[500e]

Info from 11Edition Machinery's Handbook (1943) war time edition

 

[tom2207]

Info from 11Edition Machinery's Handbook (1943) war time edition

Dont mention the war ,,, Basil

 

[MoreWellie]

This may be a stupid suggestion but.....

Is the noise coming from the fact that the flat end of the belt is travelling towards the pulleys and hitting them? It would be simple to try flipping the belt over so rather than an end hitting the pulley it simply drops slightly as the edge comes off the pulley

 

[Gragson]

Thanks a lot all for the replies, really appreciated.

What about a more modern flat belt that can be bonded with an almost invisible join, or do you want to keep the originality?

I did get a decent brand synthetic from bearingboys endless and while it performed well/good grip, the slightly odd sizes of the flat pulley steps interfered and deformed the belt hitting the upper step.

the slaping joint on overlap wont hurt the bearing but may drive u nuts.......
the join would hit the pulley in different place due to gearing......
dont know how u expect grip from that kinda belt anyway.......

Sorry Frank, don't buy it, if its making a clunk, overtime that's got to be affecting. (my nut and mechanically other things)
The OE belt grips well, and what Pollard used.

You can hand stitch it with a reasonable heavy needle,

Thanks for that, give me confidence to have a go at hand stitching them.

If so, I have several spares here, what length do you need?

Thanks a lot for for that, much appreciated Going to have a pop at sewing, but if all else fails...

Info from 11Edition Machinery's Handbook (1943) war time edition

Some valuable advice there re pattern and spacing - thanks a lot!

Butt the ends together and sew another bit onto the outside?

And this is so obvious lateral thinking to be brilliant! and why we come here - I will do the butt stitch and add an outside piece to make it bomb proof, I could take it to sewing machine man but will show off with what "I" came up with

Found a pic or original stitch pattern, not the other side tho, they start far off from the joining edge by the looks,



Found out from me old mum that there might be a physical shop! in Bletchley or Stoney still trading that sell needles, threads, awls and all.
Off Saturday to see - thanks again all.

 

[500e]

Have seen them with a figure of 8 stitch dont know how they last, every other stitch was another 1/8 inch into the weave, and the joints had some rubbery goo on it

 

[keithski122]

If you sew another piece to the outside will it stiffen it up too much or flatten it out?

 

[Beanwood]

If you sew another piece to the outside will it stiffen it up too much or flatten it out?

It could be sewn so the belt curves appropriately- so more tension on the inside of the two belts than the outside.