Governor drive belt

[Garry ColesParticipant @garrycoles69390]

Hi, What material do people use for the governor drive belt. My pulleys are 1/4 in wide. At the moment I am looking at a flat shoe lace, but joining the ends is proving to be a bit awkward.

Garry

[Garry ColesParticipant @garrycoles69390]

[Ramon WilsonParticipant @ramonwilson3]

Hi Garry,

I have used belts designed for driving tape decks or record players on the engines I've made so far. These are flat with a thin, scale like, section and come in varying widths and diameters.

They do not appear to be affected by oil and do not relax their tension over time though I always take the belt off the pulleys when stored.

Not perfect to type but do have a look 'more in keeping' than 'o'ring material tried previously or the spring type.

Plenty on eBay to choose from and cost is quite reasonable.

Hope that helps

Ramon (Tug)

Edited By Ramon Wilson on 10/12/2020 12:07:26

Edited By Ramon Wilson on 10/12/2020 12:08:34

[Geoff GParticipant @geoffg]

Like most of us, I have tried a number of materials, but most are unsuccessful, due to colour, scale appearance or the inability to transmit power. Eventually, I tried ribbon made of man-made fibre (girls' hair ribbon type of thing) – available in wide range of colours and widths from haberdashers and fabrics shops. Cut a piece a little bit overlength, heat-seal the ends with a flame, and then sew the ends together with little figure of eight stitches, over and under the stiff ridges created by the flame. I takes a little while, and a number of failures, to get the length just right. Because ribbon is smooth and slippery, I then smear the inside face with solvent free contact adhesive which seems to retain a grippy, rubbery surface to ensure a positive drive.

Good luck,

Geoff

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

If not over scale thickness, if still available, wick from an oil lamp, with zig zag stitches over the joint?

Howard

[brickyParticipant @bricky]

I used leather from an old handbag strap and if the leather is scarfed it glues flat and it can be cut very fine.

Frank

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