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V Belt Length Calculation

V-belt part numbers indicate the belt's dimensions in different ways depending on the type of belt. Automotive belts start with 4L or 3L and the following number indicates the outside length in tenths of inches. Classic belts start with a letter for the cross-section and the following number is the inside length in inches. Wedge belts list the outside circumference after the section letter(s). Micro rib belts list the outside circumference before the letter and rib count after. The document provides examples of how to interpret measurement numbers for different belt types.

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255 views5 pages

V Belt Length Calculation

V-belt part numbers indicate the belt's dimensions in different ways depending on the type of belt. Automotive belts start with 4L or 3L and the following number indicates the outside length in tenths of inches. Classic belts start with a letter for the cross-section and the following number is the inside length in inches. Wedge belts list the outside circumference after the section letter(s). Micro rib belts list the outside circumference before the letter and rib count after. The document provides examples of how to interpret measurement numbers for different belt types.

Uploaded by

waqasawan914
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to read V-Belt numbers

Automotive belts start with either 4L (12.5mm wide) or 3L (9.5mm). The number following it is
the outside length of the belt in tenths of inches. The inside length of the belt is typically 2" less
for a 4L belt, and 1-1/2" less for a 3L belt. An example would be 4L460, which would be 46" long
outside, 44" inside.

"Classic" v-belt numbers start with a letter identifying the cross section, A through E - see V-Belt
Dimensions below. A series belts are the most common. The number following it is the inside
length in inches. The outside length is typically 2 inches more. An example would be A44, 44"
long on the inside, 46" outside; the equivalent of the 4L460 above.
How to Measure Standard Belts

Belts are NOT measured by diameter nor folding the belt in half. The most accurate way to
measure the circumference of a belt is with a v belt measuring tool or using a cloth tape measure
(Not a steel tape measure or ruler). An additional option is to wrap a small diameter string/rope
around the belt, then measure the length of the string. Keep in mind belts do stretch and
unfortunately there is no specific given value for how much a belt stretches. You'll also need to
measure the width and depth to determine which section v belt you have.

Classic & Kevlar V Belt Sections

3L Section - 3/8" Width X 7/32" Depth


A Section - 1/2" Width X 5/16" Depth
B Section - 5/8" Width X 13/32" Depth
C Section - 7/8" Width X 17/32" Depth
D Section - 1-1/4" Width X 3/4" Depth
E Section - 1-1/2" Width X 29/32" Depth
AX Section - 1/2" Width X 5/16" Depth
BX Section - 5/8" Width X 13/32" Depth
CX Section - 7/8" Width X 17/32" Depth
X = Cogged belts / Notched belts

Wedge V Belt Sections

3V Section - 3/8" Width X 21/64" Depth


5V Section - 5/8" Width X 35/64" Depth
8V Section - 1" Width X 7/8" Depth
3VX Section - 3/8" Width X 21/64" Depth
5VX Section - 5/8" Width X 35/64" Depth
8VX Section - 1" Width X 7/8" Depth
X = Cogged belts / Notched belts

How classic belt numbers are coded


All A,B,C,D,E,AX,BX belts list the inside circumference measurement after the letter of the v
belt part number. Example: A88 has a 88" inner circumference, then you add 2 inches for the A
Section (Listed below) to obtain the outer circumference. If you measure the outer
circumference, then you would subtract the number of inches based on the section you have
(Listed below) to obtain the v belt number. This is also the same for the banded belts. Measure
each individual band for banded belts to obtain the correct width.

Examples of how belt numbers are coded per section:

A Section= Add 2" to belt number (Example A88 = 90" Outside Circumference)

B Section= Add 3" to belt number (Example B88 = 91" Outside Circumference)

C Section= Add 4" to belt number (Example C88 = 92" Outside Circumference)

D Section= Add 5" to belt number (Example D105 = 110" Outside Circumference)

E Section= Add 6" to belt number (Example E144 = 150" Outside Circumference)

AX Section= Add 2" to belt number (Example AX60 = 62" Outside Circumference)

BX Section= Add 3" to belt number (Example BX50 = 53" Outside Circumference)

How fractional & wedge belt numbers are coded

All sections 3L,3V,5V,8V,3VX,5VX belts have the outside circumference after the number and
letter(s). Example: Belt # 3V600 has a 60" outside circumference. Inside circumference are not
measured for these sections. This is also for the banded belts. Measure each individual band for
banded belts to obtain the correct width.

Examples of how belt numbers are coded per section:

3L Section= (Example 3L450 = 45" Outside Circumference)

3V Section= (Example 3V800 = 80" Outside Circumference)

5V Section= (Example 5V1180 = 118" Outside Circumference)

8V Section= (Example 8V2120 = 212" Outside Circumference)

3VX Section= (Example 3VX520 = 52" Outside Circumference)

5VX Section= (Example 5VX810 = 81" Outside Circumference)

Measuring K,L,M Micro Rib Belts:


Width's

K Section= 0.140" X's the number of ribs

L Section= 0.185" X's the number of ribs

M Section= 0.370" X's the number of ribs

All sections K,L,M belts will have the outside circumference in front of the letter. The rib count
will be the number after the letter.

Outside Circumference & Rib Count per section:

K Section= (Example 845K8 = 84.5" Outside Circumference and 8 Ribs)

L Section= (Example 540L10 = 54" Outside Circumference and 10 Ribs)

M Section= (Example 940M6 = 94" Outside Circumference and 6 Ribs)

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