Mark V 500 belt questions-Poly V and drive.

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I called ShopSmith a few weeks ago and asked about the belts being different etc, and was AMAZED at the hostility I encountered.
That guy was just ANGRY when I innocently asked about the difference in the belts. He said it is a crowned belt and 1s .490 x 25.75"
and get this, "it's always been that size ever since they started making the Mark 5 in 1955!"
His name was Dave and since he was nearly yelling and didn't even know when the ShopSmith Mark 5 was first made, I didn't buy the belt. Wrong size.
I just got mine from the guy on Ebay as per Bill Mayos recommendation.

Wonder where this came from?

[ATTACH]16820[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]16821[/ATTACH]
The calipers are indicating mm which is about .315".

But then, the part number has changed!

Back in 1963, it was part #3052.

[dusty]

Let me say this, even though I have taken a pledge against what I am going to say. Whenever you call Shopsmith Customer Service and a male voice responds, you need to develop what could be called Extreme Tolerance for what you are about to hear.

As for the size of a belt used on the 500, I cannot respond. I have no experience with parts (especially original parts) for that vintage. As for the part number that you will receive if you buy a drive belt from Shopsmith today, it may not have changed ever BUT, repeat BUT the part has changed. It has been manufactured by at least two and I believe three different manufacturers in the short 25years that I have had a Mark V.

I believe that at least one member of this forum has received belts that were absolutely unusable.

I have no experience and no knowledge of belts purchased from other than Shopsmith and will make no comment about them.