Best place to get a replacement drive belt for a 4 x 6 band saw? Motor hopping....

jonnymac44

jonnymac44

Joined
Sep 27, 2007
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Hey all, I've developed a bit of "bounce" while using my older Dayton 4 x 6 band saw. The motor is hopping up and down a fair amount while I'm cutting steel. I've checked out everything and all I can think of is that the belt, which is original and quite worn out is causing the slop while running the saw.

Where is the best place to find a replacement belt for a 4 x 6 horiz/vert band saw? This is the standard model, which is the same as the grizzly, Enco, harbor freight, etc. I've searched all of the sites and can't find a replacement drive belt for sale anywhere.....

Thanks!
 
Try your local auto parts store or hardware store in the lawn mower section. Take the old belt with you.
 
I would be surprised if NAPA or ACE couldn't get your fixed up. I have yet to bring napa a belt that they didn't have.
 
Is this a "V" belt? I'm sure mine is similar, but I haven't opened up the box that the step pulleys are in since I set it up... It might be overkill for this application, but have you looked at the Fenner Power Twist belts? Not the most economical option, but these things are tough, and run very smoothly. I use one on my grinder, and will likely replace my other machine belts with them as they fail.
 
If you have one close by,

http://www.tractorsupply.com/

Here they have a wall full of belts



As Stacy said take the old one with you.
It has some wear and stretch, so you will need a touch smaller.

Have a look at the machine before you leave, it is still in the middle of it's adjustment range, or it at the max?
If the machine is that old, maybe someone else put a slightly too long belt on and you need to come back in size.


I'd call it a "fractional horsepower V belt"


If auto stores have that size, it will be a much better, more expensive grade that you don't need.
You don't have the same heat exposure, or bad consequences of failure.


Might start looking at part numbers - maybe start somewhere close to that

3L 210 for a 3/8" width belt by 21"
Width is measured on the top -widest width
Length is measured on the outside -longest length.



Once you know the size for sure, write it on the inside of the guard with a good marker
(Ya I took off that guard too - you get the idea)
 
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The Ace hardware in my area has a tool on the shelf by the belts to measure the belt you bring in. One of the stores by you probably has one too.
 
Johnny, yep try NAPA they were able to get some for me. But also were not able to get others. Auto Zone had em believe it or not.
 
I have gone into the autoparts store with a non-automotive belt and just got blank stares (most of them know nothing) the belt number is the length of the belt, so you can get a start on what you need and then compare to see if you have the right one. IF the belt looks good it may not be the cause of the hopping, did you remove the cover and look at the transmission gears??
 
Thanks everybody, I guess I didn't even think to check auto parts stores. Kinda figured they would have drive belts for machinery......

Fred, I thought about some power twists.....I have a link belt on my old drill press and it made a marked improvement.

Appreciate the help guys!
 
Don't even mess with the standard belts. Go with the links belts like Fred said unless you have a weird size like my 1/4" belt on my drill press.
 
The linked belts are great and reduce vibration much better then the standard belts. I get mine from HF

http://www.harborfreight.com/vibration-free-link-belt-43771.html

image_17102.jpg
 
Well, my five feet of link belt arrived from HF last night. Got it installed and tested it out.....between the new belt, some fresh grease in the gear box and a bit of minor tweaking/tuning this decades old band saw runs like brand new again!

Don't know why I didn't think of a link belt for it before. I've got the Power Twist link belts on a couple other machines and they work great. The only drawback is that the link belt sits a bit taller on the pulleys and I had to remove the metal pulley cover. Not a big deal, plenty of machines have exposed belts/pulleys and the thing was a pain in the butt anyway because if folded up and not down. It was always falling on my hands and fingers whenever I was changing speeds and what not. This saw is running so good now I can't wait to do some profiling.......and it's usually one of my least favorite jobs:D
 
Nice,

HF gives you a lot of belt for the $$
 
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