I have come up against all-sorts of barriers trying to get replacement parts for old machinery. often people are not interested its a one off so not worth there while, however there are ways of finding things just think out of the box, I have seen cam timing belts used turned upside down, they are very strong, I use them for making strap wrenches, allot better use than in there proper use if they break. Four years ago wanted a replacement for the leather always stretching belt on my car, so equipped with the length off to the power transmission supplier, we haven’t got anything that size but can get it made, we’ll get get back to you with a price, that came back at £60 plus vat for a Gates belt. We ran an old 40 plus year old Cat for work and going west could get spares people were very helpful, so did the same for the belt. I wondered what the T Ford used and found they used from a 23inch in ten steps to a 36 inch and I needed a 30+ one and at only £3-00 for the shortest to the longest costing only £5-50 so a bit of a gamble and had two sent this cost I think less than £15 including post for the two Gates belts from the US, getting stuff sent isn’t as easy today as some things have to go through a re-shipper so adds a bit.
