Replacement flat belt for South Bend?

It does sound nice. What is not nice is the $365 for the splice kit. Although an HSM'er could probably get by with just the $70 heat knife. Anybody rig their own splicer? Something to just make-do for a one-off?

Bob

I haven't used a flat belt, but I make up my own belts for my Unimat and they work well.

The belting is bout 1/4" dia and I usually just use a solder gun with a flat tip (so I can get even heat on both ends of the material I am about to join).

Other than allowing for even heating, the only thing you want to watch for is NOT to burn the stuff. Like don't touch the material to a solder gun that's maybe 400 deg.

DOC

I have been using a timing belt removed from my 1977 volvo for over 15 years now as the belt on my old 9 inch South Bend. I turned the belt upside down (cog teeth pointing away from the flat belt pullies). I had to take the spindle apart to install the belt. I don't remember this being difficult to do. The belt has no stretch, and has a good grip. The three steps on the South Bend pulley set are not exactly the same overall circumference, so I have to diddle with the belt tension a bit when I change speeds (because the Volvo belt is not stretchy enough to adapt to the difference), to get the toggle lever to tighten the belt up correctly. I have wanted to put a stiff spring in the toggle mechanism for at least 14 of the 15 years I have used the belt, but it has never been on my priority list.

Brownnsharp

Many thanks to those of you who replied to my message. It turns out that a friend of mine works as a secretary in a machine shop and she indicated that she could get me some leather belting ("free" is usually better...). If she doesn't come through, I will order the polyurethane belting from McMaster Carr and devise my own heat knife for splicing. I'm sure that a soldering iron with temperature controller on it will do the job.

Thanks again! Terry "P'rfesser" McCreary

PLease let us know if you try it and how it works out. Bob