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Go to the Form Request to Identify a Belt

Step 1

Measure the overall width of the belt in inches from outside edge to outside edge.

Step 2

Count the number of wire strands in a 12 inch length of belting. This will determine the exact pitch (or distance from each woven strand of wire to the next) in terms of wire strands per foot of belt.

Step 3

Measure the wire diameter with calipers or a wire gauge.

Step 4

Check to see if the belt has single loop edges, c-cure edges, or double loop edges. Measure the loop edge width.

Step 5

Count of the number of rectangular openings (called spaces) across the width of the belt.

Step 6

Determine if all spaces are of equal width. Occasionally, end spaces will be of different width than middle spaces.

Step 7

Determine belt material. Most common materials are stainless steel and music wire. Music wire has a strong magnetic attraction. Stainless steel has only a slight magnetic attraction. Use a magnet to distinguish.

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Step 1 – Begin Splicing In The Center

• Move the two ends of the belt to be spliced to the
  discharge end of the conveyor unit.
• Confirm that the edge loops are curving back away
  from the direction of belt travel (as shown in Diagram A). If not, check to be sure that the belt is not threaded backwards on the conveyor.
• Lay the strand down between the two belt edges and check to see that the edge loops are going in the same
  direction as the belt’s edge loops. (The strand must also be “right side up” for it to lay flat. You will know immediately if you have installed the splice strand “wrong side up” and will have to start over.)
• BEND the strand from each side enough to INSERT the ends into the two spaces next to the center space (Spaces B and D in Diagram A)
• INSERT the strand ends into the center space of the
  opposite edge (Space 3 in Diagram B)
• Pull the ends of the strand through until the center space “locks” in place (You should be pulling the strands toward you)
• Use pliers or the Wire Belt Wire Straightening Tool to STRAIGHTEN the wire in the center space (Once the center is connected, you may remove the ties holding the belt edges together)

Step 2 – Weave Strand To One Side

• BEND one end of the wire up and INSERT it around
  the Z-bend in the next space on the edge of the wire
  closest to you (Space 5 on Diagram C). Always try to avoid bending the wire at the Z-bend!
• BEND the wire toward the center and INSERT around the Z-bend next to the center space (Space D on Diagram D)
• Pull the strand wire through the mesh and STRAIGHTEN it with your pliers
• Repeat these three moves until you reach the side edge of the belt
• Using your pliers, connect the strand’s edge loop to the belt’s edge loop (on the far edge)
• Connect the edge loop on the near edge of the belt to the strand’s edge loop
• STRAIGHTEN the strand with your pliers

Step 3 – Weave Strand To The Other Side

• Repeat the steps in #3, going in the opposite direction, weaving to the other side edge of the belt (Diagrams C through G)
• If you are installing a new belt, you are finished splicing

Step 4 – Check Drive Shaft Sprocket Alignment

• There should be a 3/16” clearance between all sprockets (and/or blanks) and the Z-bends next to them
• Check alignment of sprocket teeth with a straight edge (only necessary if the sprockets are not keyed to the Drive Shaft)

STEP 5 – Check Entire Belt Circuit

• Z-bends should NOT come in contact with ANY conveyor component (including end rolls, wear strips, transfer support rails or nose bars, etc.)
• Adjust as needed

STEP 6 – Adjust Tension

• Flat-Flex® is a low tension belt. Use minimal tension…
  only enough so that drive sprockets properly engage the belt
• Run conveyor and check to be sure it runs smoothly
• Note: Too much tension will cause premature belt failure!

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DIAGRAM A

• At the last space before the Double Loop Edge, gently bend the splicing strand in the center of the last space.
• Insert the end of the splicing strand into the double loop edge (small space) on the near side. You will need to rotate the wire to feed the DLE through the space.

DIAGRAM B

• Insert needle nose pliers from underneath, grab the
  center of DLE on strand and pull up into space.
• Straighten initial bend

DIAGRAM C

• Flex the belt by pushing down in center of last row of spaces
• Rotate splicing strand so you can push the end up from underneath the last space on far edge.
• Hook DLE over last large space Z-bend.

DIAGRAM D

• Connect the splice strand edge hook to the near side loop edge using pliers.

DIAGRAM E

• Connect the far side loop edge by hooking it into the splice strand using pliers.
• Connect the opposite edge of the belt in the same
  manner… only in mirror image.
• Straighten any bends in wire strands.

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IMPORTANT NOTE: Two different end loops from adjacent clips cannot be attached to the same Z-bend. Only one splice clip end loop per Z-bend is allowed.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If a belt has damage in more than one place on account of fatigue, do not try to repair it. Install a new belt. Also, never save old belts to use for repairs because they have already been weakened from use. Purchase several extra feet of new belt to use exclusively for repairs.

Splice clips come in two varieties: 1-space and 3-space clips. The 3-space clip is obviously stronger because its center space is woven into the belt as in the full strand splice method. These two types of clips should be used together, whenever possible to create a stronger splice and to help minimize the spacing gaps in the belt. (For example, a 7-space belt could be spliced using two 3-space clips... where as, a 9-space belt would use 1 single and two 3-space clips. See drawings below.) Refer to the chart on the reverse side for how many clips you should use for your belt.

1. BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPLICING

• Plan out the number, type and placement of splice clips by laying them out in position across the belt.
• Make certain that no two end loops on the clip hook around the same Z-bend and that all end loops point away from the
  direction of belt travel.

2. BEGIN INSTALLATION WITH THE CENTER SPACE

• Insert the appropriate type of splice clip into the center space on the edge of the belt
• If installing a single clip, use needle nose pliers to grip the splice clip, and hook the two ends around the Z-bends on either side of the center space
  -OR-
• If using a 3-space clip, bend the clip in the center and insert the ends into the two spaces next to the center space.
• Then insert the ends into the center space of the opposite edge and pull through until the center “locks” into place.
• Use the needle nose pliers to grip the end loop, bend the wire up and hook it around the Z-bend on the opposite edge of the belt. Repeat for other end loop.
• Straighten the wire with pliers

3. INSTALL THE NEXT SPLICE CLIP ON AN OUTSIDE EDGE IF A SINGLE CLIP IS USED

• Remove the ties holding the edges together
• Insert the splice clip through the near edge
• Connect the edge loop to the splice clip
• Grip the splice clip with your pliers and hook the end around the adjacent edge loop and the first Z-bend on the far edge
  -OR-
• If a 3-space clip is used:
• Remove the ties holding the edges together
• Bend and insert the splice clip around the second space in from the belt edge, then insert the ends into the opposite edge of the belt. Pull through until center locks in place.
• Using pliers, connect the outside edge loop to the splice clip. Then grip the end of the clip and hook it around the adjacent edge loop. Hook the opposite end to its adjacent Z-bend.
• Straighten wire with pliers or Wire Belt’s Wire Straightening tool.

4. INSTALL SPLICE CLIP ON THE OPPOSITE EDGE

• Install the same type of splice clip on the opposite edge in the same way.

5. INSTALL THE REMAINING SPLICE CLIPS

• Install the remaining splice clips, as appropriate, across the belt. There should be the exact same number and type of splice clips on either side of the center clip (the first clip you installed).

6. RE-TIGHTEN THE TENSION