Old belts? Throw out??

[Sparky-(Admin) 26,098]

  What are you guys doing with old belts? Throwing out? Storing (forever!)? 
   I have this pile of belts, have no idea what Wheel Horse or mowing deck (or maybe my one Craftsman??) they were for originally. I should just toss em tomorrow at the transfer station…it’s just so dang hard …been collecting them for no reason for 20 plus years.

    If I have swapped out the drive belt on one of my gear drive machines you can bet the old one was stretched/slipping, seems ridiculous to have them here taking up space. 
  So again, what are you all doing with old belts? 
 

 

 

[ebinmaine 79,877]

If a belt has obvious signs of wear - it's trash. Period.  

I did have a few used belts saved aside for those occasions of instant need such a broken drive belt with no spares... 

Then I bought spares.  

[wallfish 20,311]

I'll take any good ones. Don't toss them out and bring'm to Zags 

I do all kinds of nonsense things around here and prefer to just grab one off the shelf vs going out to buy them. 

It's good to have one of those long belts around to start other engines from a tractor PTO. 

[Sparky-(Admin) 26,098]

18 minutes ago, wallfish said:

I'll take any good ones. Don't toss them out and bring'm to Zags 

 

 

   There yours John!! 
  

 

[rjg854 13,249]

I've kept some belts that were worn, but, not worn out for emergencies. Didn't want to have a bunch of new belts hanging around that I might never need. The tractors I have had belts replaced if they showed any signs of wear.

[Ed Kennell 46,695]

1 hour ago, Sparky said:

Throwing out? Storing (forever!)? 

A hoarder that has 5 spare 8 speeds and 30+ spare tires should have a couple hundred spare belts.

 

Store em forever.

[ri702bill 12,615]

If properly ID'd, there are good enough to measure & match for a new replacement. Yes, I do keep the prevoius WH drive belt and the Ariens SnoThro belts - just in case....

[ol550 869]

Have any Amish or Mennonite in the area?  They would most likely be happy to have them.

[953 nut 67,822]

2 hours ago, Sparky said:

old one was stretched/slipping,

I have always heard that belts don't stretch, they just wear down.

I hang on to a few long belts of both 1/2 and 5/8 in the event I'm doing a project where the factory belt isn't going to work. Cut the old belt, put it on and pull up the slack, once you figure the length is right use some tie wire to join the two ends and give it a try. Now you have a proper belt to take to Tractor Supply to measure and match up

[Ed Kennell 46,695]

2 hours ago, wallfish said:

 

I do all kinds of nonsense things around here

Most of my "custom" builds are designed to use an existing belt from my stock.

[953 nut 67,822]

Just now, Ed Kennell said:

Most of my "custom" builds are designed to use an existing belt from my stock.  HOARD

Fixed it for you.

[wallfish 20,311]

5 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Most of my "custom" builds are designed to use an existing belt from my stock.

Me too Ed

[wallfish 20,311]

It's also good to have a long belt around to use for measuring for a new belt. Mostly custom stuff. But it's also a lot faster than looking stuff up online too.

I have a cut deck belt that is wrapped around the pulleys and just marked. Measure that length and there's the new belt length.

[Ed Kennell 46,695]

2 minutes ago, wallfish said:

It's also good to have a long belt around

I keep long belts to drive other equipment off the PTO.      Like hydros in non running tractors, meat grinders, ice cream freezers, air compressors, gen sets, etc.

[sqrlgtr 3,476]

I keep all mine ifn that aint damaged like yous say may need a 1/2"-1" longer belt fer sumin. if they are damaged in any way they go straight to the trashy can, got to much junk laying around all ready