Treadle Belt?
 

Where is the best place to order treadle belts? Are they all the same size or do I need to measure? I have 1 belt that is cracking and it has fit 2 different cabinets when I switched the machine from one cabinet to another. This belt came with the machine and was terribly dried out. What exactly do you use to keep the leather in good condition?

Treadle belts come (came) in about three different sizes. 3/16", 1/4", and 5/16". The skinny 3/16" is what most folks sell now and I think they are too skinny for anything serious. There is a person on this forum selling 1/4" ones but I have lost that info ... again.

They come in one basic length, 72" and you have to cut them to the right length.

A good place to order treadle belts is Sew-Classic: http://www.shop.sew-classic.com/ . She also has a good set of instructions on how to cut them to length.

I suppose you could use Lexal leather conditioner on a good belt to keep it that way, but one that's already dried and cracked is pretty much toast.

Joe

oo thanks for this info! The guy with the red eye in a cabinet near me has come down to thirty dollars, but it definitely would need a belt!

I hope I can get the machine on friday!

Thanks Joe!!

I bought one at my local repair shop for the same price it was online and no shipping charges.

Back in 98 when my cousin gave me Singer 66 Treadle #1 we went to the LSMG and bought a nice 3/16" "Made in Japan" treadle belt. 13 years later it was still wrapped up in the drawer. When I finally put it on the machine I only had to adjust it once. A year later it's still there and working fine.

Those I've bought in the last year have been made in China and stretch, stretch, stretch. It's frustrating.
I've had to adjust the belt in 66 Treadle #2 three or four times, and in 9W-7 Treadle #4 I gave up on it and made a belt out of aquarium tubing.

The belt in my Franklin is a 1/4" belt and so soft I have to adjust it every time I use the machine. It came with treadle #4 but I needed it so it got put in the Franklin.

What I need to do is find the name and contact info to a gal who has 1/4" leather belting by the roll. Then buy a roll and make my own. One of the other members here gave me her contact info, but .... I've lost track of it again.

Joe

You can purchase treadle machine belts at the Amish near Hazelton, IA. They usually keep on hand.