Belt Drive vs Chain and Sprocket vs Gears

[staybusy]

I can shitpost too!

[USMCPOP]

Rope drive was popular at one time.

[camdigger]

Originally Posted by USMCPOP

Rope drive was popular at one time.

Very true. Might have actually been the origin of belting. Some of the very old cable Tool drilling rigs had 2" diameter rope driving the hoisting drum. The rope was flipped on by hand and off with a lever operated flipper. Those rigs used that 2" rope for various jobs. I wonder who did all the splicing?

I wonder who was the first one to wrap a harness strap around a wheel to drive something?

If I had to guess, I'd say rope drives, then leather, then flat leather belting, then wider and thicker rubberized fabric flat belts, then v belts, multi fee, then cogged timing belts.

My mother sewing machine had a 1/4" round profile leather belt. Threshing machines might have 2 or 3 external flat belts driving assorted shafts, including the 6 or 8" wide drive belt from the prime mover.

[USMCPOP]

I had a Honda S600 car that had an oil bath chain drive to the rear wheels from the differential. Sort of like a portal axle. The diff didn't move and the chain drive allowed independent suspension.

[USMCPOP]

Originally Posted by camdigger

... I wonder who was the first one to wrap a harness strap around a wheel to drive something? ...

I know I'd get moving right along if my Dad wrapped a leather belt across my butt.

[JohnBoy]

Originally Posted by USMCPOP

I had a Honda S600 car that had an oil bath chain drive to the rear wheels from the differential. Sort of like a portal axle. The diff didn't move and the chain drive allowed independent suspension.

did some of the monstrous old school caddies do something similar to bring the drive to the front wheels while still having huge drivetrains?

[Randyjaco]

I have had dozens of chain drive motorcycles and really hated the chain maintenance and other problems. Last year I picked up a BMW F800ST which came with a cogged belt ( ala Harley). I love the belt drive. The maintenance amounts to regular inspections for debris and changing the belt every 24K miles. I don't do wheelies or burnouts, so it is problem-free. I really don't understand why BMW discontinued the belt drive for their street bikes. It's definitely more trouble-free than the shaft or chain.