Belts

[DLB]

AAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!

SS has done it AGAIN!

What has Shopsmith done? All I see is a different vendor and I'm not certain of that. Good, Bad or Indifferent until experience determines????

According to Marc's measurements the new belt is 0.465" wide, many of us replace the belt if it measures below 0.5" because the speeds will be wrong. If that measurement is correct this one is bad out of the box. Also this is a 26" belt while the design calls for a 26.5" belt. The 1/2" increments are no longer available as 'standard' and most 'standard' 1/2" belts are narrower than 1/2". SS belts are unique, no longer standard. That's the whole point of others in this thread suggesting buying from SS, so the belts will fit correctly. Experience has already determined that standard belt sizes are not okay as replacements.

- David

[dusty]

AAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!

SS has done it AGAIN!

What has Shopsmith done? All I see is a different vendor and I'm not certain of that. Good, Bad or Indifferent until experience determines????

According to Marc's measurements the new belt is 0.465" wide, many of us replace the belt if it measures below 0.5" because the speeds will be wrong. If that measurement is correct this one is bad out of the box. Also this is a 26" belt while the design calls for a 26.5" belt. The 1/2" increments are no longer available as 'standard' and most 'standard' 1/2" belts are narrower than 1/2". SS belts are unique, no longer standard. That's the whole point of others in this thread suggesting buying from SS, so the belts will fit correctly. Experience has already determined that standard belt sizes are not okay as replacements.

- David

Is there a spec somewhere that defines the belt dimension to be 1/2" x 26 1/2" or is this a dimension that we (the users) have come to expect.

As for the speed being wrong - isn't that why the speed is variable? If you set the speed dial at "R", what is the anticipated RPM (+/- what)?

[RFGuy]

I didn't measure it before installation, but I was pleased with replacement belts that I got from Jacob Anderson's site. I remember going to it before after reading a previous forum thread that indicated Shopsmith might have changed suppliers causing the belt dimensions to shift. To be honest, I am kind of surprised by this thread with everyone now saying to ONLY use Shopsmith belts...when before I saw a discussion here calling into question the belts Shopsmith was selling at that point in time.

https://jacobshopsmithrepair.com/produc ... to-present

[JPG]

How quickly thee forget. It is short! It is narrow. It is not made to original specifications from 1950's.

Past experience with off the shelf belts failed.

Using SS belts was recommended since that previous disaster was corrected. SURPRISE! - disaster is being repeated.

As for +/-speeds, ok as long as thee are not near the ends of the range.(near the center of the movable sheave pulley(s)).

P.S. "apparently working" and "working correctly" are seldom equivalent.

[dusty]

How quickly thee forget. It is short! It is narrow. It is not made to original specifications from 1950's.

Past experience with off the shelf belts failed.

Using SS belts was recommended since that previous disaster was corrected. SURPRISE! - disaster is being repeated.

As for +/-speeds, ok as long as thee are not near the ends of the range.(near the center of the movable sheave pulley(s)).

P.S. "apparently working" and "working correctly" are seldom equivalent.

I haven't forgotten anything. I just don't yield to the opinions of others without reason. I am running a non-shopsmith belt (purchased around the time of that previous disaster) in my second machine right now and I have no problems. Admittedly. I run near mid range almost all the time on that machine.

[garys]

It looks like Shopsmith supplies 4L260 standard size belts when they don't have their own in stock. The 4L260 will work, but the different width should change the speeds somewhat from the Shopsmith wider belts.
I checked my spare belts. I have one from Shopsmith, and a generic 4L260 spare on hand. The brand of 4L260 I have is slightly narrower than 1/2" while the Shopsmith one is a bit wider than 1/2".

belts.jpg (199.06 KiB) Viewed 701 times

I use the Shopsmith original size whenever possible, but I keep a spare 4L260 on hand in case of an emergency.

[JPG]

It must be mentioned that the reason for letters on the speed indicator dial is intentionally vague(letters rather than numbers[rpm] is because the reeves drive is not concise. So a slightly 'off spec' belt will work, but that introduces an additional variant as is belt wear over time.

The effect of a worn belt is similar to that of a new belt that is narrow.

However the reduced length of the belt has a more serious effect. The shorter belt will cause the belt to run closer to the point at which the narrow belt will get jammed in between the 'vanes' on the sheaves.

So the combined effect of both narrow and short will shorten the length of useful life the belt will provide.

Recently there have been 1/2" belt length belts commonly available.

Today's "1/2 inch" belts appear to be 12 mm belts.