Leather Drive Belt

[wyatt emp]

My leather drive belt on my 1910 Harley has streached and is close to the point of not being usable. Any tricks to shrink it or source for a new one?

[Chris Haynes]

Have it cut, shortened, and restitched? When I read the article about George Wyman's 1903 crossing of the continent it was mentioned that the trip was made on the original belt. Although it had been shortened and repaired.

[Ross]

I have an extra 1910 belt. I could part with one if needed. 1 204 831 8165

[talbot-2]

My leather drive belt on my 1910 Harley has streached and is close to the point of not being usable. Any tricks to shrink it or source for a new one?

This last summer, I had the leather belt on my 1912 Harley-Davidson shortened by a restorer of early motorcycles who lives in northern Wisconsin. He shortened the belt by splitting the belt down the middle creating lap joints, cutting off three (3) inches of belt, and re-gluing the lap joint halves with a strong adhesive. Unfortunately I can't recall the name that he had for the process. The belt now works fine. This is a belt that I had made back in 1968 to replace the original 1912 leather belt.

There is also a gentleman (John Knox) located just north of Chicago who makes leather endless drive belts for a variety of applications including early motorcycles. Try www.leatherdrivebelts.com.