Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Square-Tooth vs. Round-Tooth Drive Belt Systems

This is topic Square-Tooth vs. Round-Tooth Drive Belt Systems in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 02-10-2009, 02:23 PM:

I have 2ea Millennium projectors/5-Star soundheads with the round-tooth belts.

My PR-1014/5-Star has the square-tooth belts.

Which belt system is better? Lasts longer...has fewer problems...etc.?

I heard the square-tooth is preferred.

Comments?

Thanks!

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 02-10-2009, 03:09 PM:

Square tooth belts are easy to source locally so you don't have to pay Strong's inflated prices. Same with replacement pulleys.

Round tooth belts are metric pitch and a bit harder to find.

Performance wise they seem to be about the same, as far as I know...

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 02-10-2009, 05:14 PM:

Edit: Nevermind. I misread the above post, so my question is not valid.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 02-11-2009, 01:33 AM:

The current round-tooth belts seem thicker and heavier-duty than the square-toothed ones. They're quieter, too.

Metric (round-tooth) is 2mm pitch, fwiw.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-11-2009, 02:09 AM:

The round tooth is a 5mm pitch belt with the catalog number of HTD-670-5M x 13mm .. which will fit this Simplex/5star setup.

I got my belts from McGuire bearing here in Boise, even though they ordered out of Chicago. But saved me a good 11 bucks per pet if I had to order them from STRONG.

(For reference sakes: the square tooth belt is a 260XL x.50 for the same setup..)

Only pinch that I have with the round tooth is: being a more thicker belt and have to bend around that small motor pulley, the backing of the belt do break sooner than the thinner square tooth belt.

Plan on doing belt changes with round tooth belts once a year for both sets. Square tooth belts can last longer, but do take heed of these belts beginning to dry out and fabric weakening after age.

good luck - Monte

Posted by Don Furr (Member # 1469) on 02-11-2009, 06:55 AM:

Which belt is recommended for the Century SA and RE-3 soundhead with Kelmar arms?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-11-2009, 08:54 AM:

Phil,

Round tooth is far superior!!! Benefits include much lower flutter, longer belt life, far longer pulley life, overall smoother operation. It's one of three things Wrong did right! They are also inexpensive and available at most bearing supply houses. The Christie P-35 recently went all round tooth.

Mark

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-11-2009, 09:15 AM:

Is there a generic replacement for the 5-Star/PR-1014 drive belts? Or must these be ordered from Strong?

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 02-11-2009, 11:36 AM:

There will be a number marked on the belt and any good belting shop should be able to get it
I prefer the round metric belts to the older square teeth one as well

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-11-2009, 12:12 PM:

quote:
s there a generic replacement for the 5-Star/PR-1014 drive belts? Or must these be ordered from Strong?

..be the same numbers that I posted to which ones you need.

-Monte