Ok guys I know this question has been asked before, but I can not find the answer so I am going to ask again. If you look at the old pictures of the tractors using the belt pulley the tractor is set a long distance from the equipment and a very long belt is used. Why so far away? It looks like it would be much harder to keep the belt running true and a lot more dangerous. I can remember as a small child my Grandfather using an old W30 international to run a hammer mill and grind feed for the cattle. The hammer mill was inside the barn and the tractor would set outside with a long belt to the mill. I was not allowed to get very close to the operation for fear I would get into the belt. The mill was so loud and shook the entire barn it scared me out of my wits anyway.

My dad said that without a twist the belt tends to jump and gallop and break the belt so they designed everything to run with the belt twisted - kept everything running smoother. ADB

I grew up with belts and noticed that all long belts always used a twist. It reversed rotation so most implements must have been built with that in mind. Does anyone know why?

Ted, maybe its cause us farmers were backwards in those days!! I often wondered why the threshing machines were done that way. Too bad all the guys that ran the machine are gone now or I would look up one and ask them. we always ran the silo filler without the twist. If they have a threshing bee in the area I'll check it out.

A long belt is easier to keep tight and has more reserve power.

Recommendation is for 1 foot of total belt lenght per hprsepower. A short belt will build up more heat than a long belt. My LA generates about 85 horsepower and works well at a distance of 40 feet, or an 80 foot belt... Gene

Thanks for the info guys I never thought of the fire issue, specialty with the steam engines. I can also see how the weight of the belt would help it grip the pulley better. Just goes to show that you can learn something new every day. I will be going to the Penfield Historic farm days calibration in Penfield IL. In a couple of weeks, and hope to get to see some of this type of equipment running. KYCASE1.

There were a couple reasons for a long belt. The main one was fire hazard. A spark would easily ignite almost any operation, what with all the dust and chaff generated. Steam engines were especially prone to fire. I think longer belts are easier to align than short ones, at least from my limited experienc on a Case thresher. Don

the long belt is needed for weight. its the weight of the belt that makes it pull. the harder the pull the longer the belt. and yes people did get caught in them.

That is correct, as one reason. Those long belts were heavy and were basically a "linear" flywheel. When extra power was needed the momentum of the long belt would help the engine/tractor pull thru.