HF/LM 8x12 Belt Size?

[darkzero]

Anyone know what the belt size is for the Harbor Freight/Lathemaster 8x14 is? I'm using Fenner Power Twist belt but after so many months the belt has shown it wear. Snapped a link, replaced the link, snapped another, & the cycle continues. I guess the combiniation of the Fenner belt getting hard/brittle with age & pulley changes for speed changes it doesn't last long. I made the belt a little long to make pulley changes easy & I know I'm not excessively over tensioning it.

The manual says 0-720, the belt that came with mine is 0-710 so I was never able to use the stock belt since it didn't fit. I know metric & US belts aren't 100% interchangeable but has anyone ever used a US belt for theirs? I can't find info on what a "O" belt is. I suppose I could measure & figure it out but was hoping someone could save me the trouble.

I'm going to sell it soon & I don't want the owner to have the unreliability of the Fenner belt in this case so I would like to order a decent quality V belt.

 

[darkzero]

Anyone know?

I guess I should just measure it. I'm assuming I have to measure the inside distance of the belt or is it the outside? Would it be as simple as converting metric to inch, 720mm = 28.3" & I can maybe just use a 29" belt?

 

[wquiles]

Man, I have used these belts for years and I have yet to break a single link. Maybe the pulley/sheave wears the links more than normal?

 

[darkzero]

Man, I have used these belts for years and I have yet to break a single link. Maybe the pulley/sheave wears the links more than normal?

I did some searching & couldn't find any one reporting of them breaking. I never had an issue for many months until I started doing a lot of pulley/speed changes. I'm sure this is what causes the links to get weak. I can't see any actual wear caused by pulley contact, they links break at the thin joints were each link interlocks with each other. I think the slight twisting when taking the belt on & off is the cause.

Not going to change my mind about them. I love the performance of them & will still use them on the new lathe, bandsaw, & will get one for my drill press too. I don't recommend these to be used in applications where one has to remove & reinstall them very often.