How to Identify a V-Belt? | Megadyne Group

A V-belt is a wedge-shaped belt manufactured out of a rubber compound, reinforced with a tensile cord specifically engineered to transmit power into movement. V-belts can be found in driving mechanisms, such as engines in air compressors, fans, and pumps. They are available in a variety of sizes and materials to meet the needs of particular applications.

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V-Belt Product Types

There are several possible types of V-belts available:

• Light Duty - Suitable for light-duty applications normally using fractional horsepower motors.
• Classical Heavy Duty - Wide range of sizes.
• Molded Cogged - Cogs allow the use of smaller diameter pulleys and provide heat dissipation; Raw Edge Sidewalls prevent slippage.
• Wedge - Narrower, deeper profile with higher power capacity than classical v-belt; allows for smaller, more compact drives.
• Wedge Cogged - Same properties as Wedge, but cogged for greater flexibility and heat dissipation.
• Banded – Two or more v-belts joined to form a single belt allowing the belts to function as a single belt with equal load distribution and wear.

How to Identify a V-Belt?

Belts with Branding

If the branding on the v-belt is still intact, the easiest way to identify it is to simply read the part number. Unfortunately, after hours of use, the brand is often worn off and not legible. In this case, it becomes necessary to take note of the dimensions of the belt.

Belts without Branding

You then need to find the measurements for your V-belt. The following steps will allow you to do so:

Step 1: Determine Belt Cross Section

V-belt cross sections are categorized based on their top width and depth measurements. Each width/depth combination is labelled using a letter of the alphabet. For example, v-belts with 21/32 in. width and 7/16 in. depth are labelled a "B" belt. Specially designed Browning V-Belt Rules are also available with a gauge to help you select the correct belt type. 

Step 2: Identify Belt Construction

V-belts are available in either wrapped or raw edge styles. A conventional wrapped v-belt will have an envelope of rubberized fabric covering the belt. A raw edge cogged v-belt will have exposed rubber sidewalls and moulded cogs on the bottom that resemble teeth. The following characteristics may also be present, depending on the construction type:

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1. Rubberized fabric cover – Cover envelopes the entire belt and protects the belt core.
2. Top fabric – Provides heat and oil resistance.
3. Load carrying section – Cords (also known as tensile members) give the ability to transmit power and ensure uniform load distribution.
4. Compression section – Elastomer resists compression fatigue and dissipates internal heat build-up, providing firm lateral pressure against the sheave/pulley sidewall and distributing the load to the cords.
5. Precision molded cogs – Provide additional flexibility, allowing for the use of smaller pulley diameters, and aiding in heat dissipation.

Step 3: Measure V-belt length

The most difficult part of identifying a v-belt is measuring the length. There is no precise method that is practical to perform in the field for v-belt measurement. Precise measurement requires a measuring fixture with pulleys of prescribed dimension and the ability to apply a specific tension to the belt according to ARPM (Association for Rubber Product Manufacturers) standards for the given belt section.

Additionally, there are several terms used in the industry to describe length (e.g. inside length, outside length, pitch length, effective length) making it very confusing. 

Some belt providers instruct end users to utilize tapes to measure outside length. While this method can approximate belt length, it can still be off by inches. If the drive has ample installation and take-up range, using a tape can yield a belt that will fit the drive in many cases, however, there is no guarantee it is the optimum length designed for the drive. 

Contact Megadyne Application Engineering, who will work with you to perform the drive analysis and ensure the belts we deliver are the best choice for your application.

Step 4: Label the Drive

Finally, to avoid the issue of identifying the v-belt each time it needs to be replaced, a good maintenance practice is to properly label the drive with the correct belt part number. Use an adhesive sticker or any type of permanent signage where you can easily read the belt part number, making it easy to obtain belts in the future. Recording the date when the belts were installed can also enhance your maintenance program with increased uptime by knowing when to replace belts before they fail. 

Are you interested in learning more about V Belts Supplier(pt,ja,sl)? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Quality V-Belts From Megadyne

Gents

I need to order some Europeean V-belts in the USA.
The purchase department cant locate these belts, in spite of pictures with the model and manufacturer clearly visible.

Gates Super HC SPA
and
Pirelli Equi-Match SPA 865

How can I explain better what I need so that they can easily find them?

As far as I can read on the Web, SPA is the profile, and the numbers will then be the circumference in mm, but is it the measurements on the outside of the belt, or am I completely wrong? Can not understand the why you are having such problems.
As far as I am aware Gates is a US company so you shouldn't have any problem buying belts.

From memory the belt length is measured at about midway inside / outside dia. ie, the mean dia. of the pulley.

Take a belt and visit the local engineering supplier. You need new purchasing agents. These belts are made by every v belt manufacturer. They are an odd european profile, so some of the major domestic suppliers may not keep inventory. Your purchasing department may be trying to buy from a large distributor or catalog house that cannot identify the numbers. Try a smaller independant distributor.
Manufacturers or Importers that stock this belt will be:

Speed Control
Jason Industrial
Optibelt
Ammetric
Pirelli
Dunlop

The proper order nomenclature would be SPA & SPA 865



Russell Giuliano
Thank you guys. I will forward this info to the Purchase dep ashore.
I noticed that some list the Pitch length, which is slightly less.
Example SPA (plus 18mm to get the Outside Lenght=)

All the best,

M Yes, they are odd,(as in unpopular) as this profile is the only European wedge belt that does not directly correalate to an American size, example spz=3V,SPB=5V, SPC =8V.
Please do not attempt to correct me. They have been around for years, but few American distributors will even bother with them, due to low US demand.

Russell Giuliano
There are places outside of the US you know. US demand is of essentially no relevance to what goes on in Europe where they're reasonably common, although perhaps less so than the standard Z, A, B, C sections.

There are all manner of 'odd' things in the US which are quite normal to the people who live there, just as you think some things in Europe are 'odd' even though they are normal to folk on this side of the water: it's a matter of perspective.

Your post is unnecessarily rude and arrogant.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education! As Scotty says, there are places outside the US. Further these places use different standard, and different units of measurement and different laws. Currently my pet hate is the English system for measurement being referred to feet and inches when feet and inches is actually Imperial, English measurements being metric. Of course being late converts to the metric system we still buy our milk and beer in pints measure our road distance in miles and the inside leg of our trousers in inches, but that's all part of the English loveable idiosyncratic nature.