Topic: Are red belts better than Industrial

[mr.smitty_78]

Are Red belts really better than any other belts including Industrial belts. If so what makes them so much better and are they a sticky type belt. Was thinking of picking one up but woundering why I should.

[The Tank]

Yes they are. I think is because of the aramid that is used to make the belts, can deal with higher heat is the main reason.

[Wheelhorseracer]

Aramid: A manufactured fibre, that exhibits high strength and high modulus. It is known commercially as Kevlar, Technora or Twaron. This strong fibre does not have a melting point and is flame proof. It retains it's shape, even at high temperatures and is resistant to stretch.

I had to look it up since I didn't recognize that word.

[tjbryner]

Aramid: A manufactured fibre, that exhibits high strength and high modulus. It is known commercially as Kevlar, Technora or Twaron. This strong fibre does not have a melting point and is flame proof. It retains it's shape, even at high temperatures and is resistant to stretch.

I had to look it up since I didn't recognize that word.

So the blue ones from TSC are about the same? They have  Kevlar in them as well...

[George Herrin]

Read the labels if it doesn't say Aramid it isn't the same nor is it as good. TSC are decent belts but they do not say Aramid.

[Wheelhorseracer]

Good info to know!

[Running on Empty]

Napa has a series of belts called "Blade Runner."  I have had very good luck with them.  Way better than the blue belts you get from the farm implement stores.

[Wheelhorseracer]

i bought mine from an industrial shop that looks after factories.

The last time I bought one they say they measure the inside circumference measurement of the belt.. while TSC reads from the outside circumference.

[Toadworks]

Just because the belt says it has kevlar, aramid fibers or what ever doesn't make it a good belt. It's in the CONSTRUCTION of the belt. How many strands of kevlar (which is an aramid fiber) does the belt have? I'm not sure what the actual comparisons are, but I know George swears by the red ones and I would assume that the number of strands in those belts is larger, or the cords are bigger. The rubber compound is another difference as well as the fabric wrap. Personally I have had good luck with the light grey ones from Advance Auto (aramid fiber). They run around 12 bucks and have what I need in stock about 5 blocks from the house. Anyway, the point is the red ones are good, the blue ones work, the light grey ones are okay too. They must be very similar in construction. Another thing to consider, your pulley set-up. Is it exactly like George's or Bill's or Steve's? Your's may build up more or less heat. Obviously more heat will wear the belt faster. The type and condition of the pulley will effect the wear of the belt too. So if the beginning of the season, the blue belts worked just fine and towards the end, they started to glaze and slip alot, look at your pulleys.

[Tom Price]

I am sponsored by Gates and they supply me with all my belts (PowerRated) and they are Aramid fiber.  It doesn't say on the package but if you go to the web page it shows you the construction and says it is Aramid.  I know the O'Reilly's around here sell them and I ran my last one over 100 laps testing and gave it back to Gates and they said I could still run it longer if I wanted to... good belts!

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=5058&location_id=5008

[berthyd]

The green Gates belts (Power Rated) tend to stretch a bit too much for my taste. After running the "red" belts for a few years with no trouble, I've now switched to Gates "Predator" belts. I ran one on one of my twins all last year, and it's still on there.

Bert

[MowJoe]

i bought mine from an industrial shop that looks after factories.

The last time I bought one they say they measure the inside circumference measurement of the belt.. while TSC reads from the outside circumference.

Lawn mower belts are power rated not fractional horsepower industrial belts are made to be put on and stay tight with constant hp like running on a electric motor. Lawn mower belts are made to handle the strain of having hp engaged and disengaged like turning on a mower deck or running a clutch. The two are very different and should not be used in place of each other. Also there are very few companies that make lawn mower belts I know for a fact ( because I was at the factory and witnessed it myself) The red belts from Rotary and the Blue belts from Oregon and the Prime line brand all come from the same mfg. but I'm not saying there all the same belt each one is built to it's own set of specs. That's my 2 cents on the belt deal

[Tony Loveless]

The red belts are all I run.  I haven't tried the TSC belts but nothing else will hold the twin.

[George Herrin]

The red belts are all I run.  I haven't tried the TSC belts but nothing else will hold the twin.

DITTO Tony.

[Flipper]

Personal experience and usage..........

Blue belts last about 1.5 races on my twin.....and expensive...the local shop gets over $30 bucks ea.

Gray Advanced Auto belts last thru practice and the heat....and that's it....the worst of the batch. $12-15...not worth it.

Red belts work better that anything else I have tried, little to no streatching and or slippage. Minimal glazing. Avg Price $15-18

John Deere Deck Belts(Non cloth) are actually too good, they grab like glue, a little too hard on the clutch, they are either on or off.
They last quite a while and are extremely strong, stretching is mininmal....but, after heating them up, they tend to glaze up and slip
when getting into it. Pricing is not bad.....$15-20ea  I run 73" & 76".

So.....as I run out of the Deere Belts, I have been switching over to the red Arimid. All the other mowers I have use the red belts...never had an issue period....so the test will be this saturday on the twin with a red belt......and that thing eats belts for breakfast so, I'll give you a full report afterwards. Initial tests in the backyard were impressive with the red arimid. Clutch was smooth
whereas, the JD belt never seems to want to disengage(especially after getting hot)....it will yank you out of the seat when attempting a smooth takeoff.(again - either on or off).

Bang for the buck, is the red arimid belt...............full report later