oliver 18 combine parts?

[Whistlin200]

mornin,guys
I posted awhile back about my oliver 18 combine on how I blew the cyclinder variable speed belt and I know its one inch by a half by 77 around. Id like to get it going again to to help get more acres done when me and my buddy are doing beans with our Massey 300. I can run my 18 between loads so I was curious if anyone has a parts machine with a decent belt or if anyone has the part number for a new one thanks lot.

 

[rrlund]

Have you had a dealer search other dealers for a new old stock?

 

[DanielW]

Unfortunately the belts running the concaves of some of those old combines are some of the few belts that aren't a standard cross-section. Usually it's the belt cross-section angle that varies: variable speed drives are often more like 30 to 35 degrees, while conventional v-belts are 40 degrees. But a lot of old equipment does use standard v-belts for variable speed drives.

I don't know about the Oliver 18 belt for sure. Is it a double-sided v-belt? I don't think it is from what I remember of being around an 18. If it's not a double-sided belt, those dimensions you give are very, very close to a standard C73 V-belt: 17/32" thick (just a tiny smidge more than half an inch), 7/8" top width. C73 means C-section, 73" inside circumference. Which works out to 77" outside circumference (you have to be careful what you're measuring when spec'ing v-belts: Was the 77" you mention inside or outside circumference? Makes a surprising difference on a belt that long with that thick of a section).

If I was in your shoes, I'd spend a couple bucks on a standard C73 belt and see how it does. Actually, I'd probably go with a CX73. The 'X' in a v-belt spec means cogged - which will be better for going around smaller pulleys, and more forgiving if the angle isn't quite perfect. I'll bet even if it's not a perfect cross-section match it would probably work and you wouldn't notice any difference. Individual CX73 belts look like they'd cost about $30 (or a pack of five for $160 on Amazon). For that low a price, I'd certainly be willing to try one if I was in your shoes and in a bind.