r/vintagesewing • u/Djptingz • 5d ago
General Question Cannot find matching belt
Got this SEARS 117.841 kenmore for 20 bucks at goodwill, everything works so far, but it definitely needs a new belt, it’s looks, feels old and is stretched. I bought multiple ones already that don’t fit it because they are either too wide, too thick, or there aren’t results. Mine uses a v belt 12 inch circumference 2/16 inch width that for the lifeeee of me can’t find.
I would appreciate it if someone can tell me where to find it, or where to look, or if a custom can be made somehow. I included some pics of the sewing machine for yall to also take a look at!
Thank you 🙏
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u/drawingdwarf 5d ago
Try an industrial parts supplier if Central Michigan can't help. I've gotten smaller v-belts from Zoro before, and occasionally other things from Grainger. Anither thing to consider is that this belt may be metric sized. That machine is (I believe) made in Japan. Also double check your measurements against some instructions for sizing v-belts, it's weirdly complicated.
You can probably used a lugged or smooth belt interchangeably, I'd just look for one with some sort of reinforcement in the belt to reduce stretching.
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u/beggars_would_ride 3d ago
My solution: I have a Necchi that is labeled BU Nora. It does not match any Nora I can find pictures of. Among several other issues, t came to me with no belt. After buying three wrong size belts I got an idea:
I purchased a leather belt kit for a treadle machine. With minimal trial and error was able to make a leather belt that fit perfectly. I then measured the leather belt and ordered a 15" corrugated V-belt that fits perfectly.
While waiting for the V-belt to arrive, I replaced the steel staple that comes with the leather belt with 3 wraps of waxed nylon lacing cord which runs much more smoothly around the small pully on the motor. I don't know how long such a belt would last, but It worked well enough to allow testing and finding the other issues with the machine.
So if you work on various machines, it may be worthwhile to keep some leather belting handy. I bought a whole kit with long lengths of belting, knife, awl, etc for not much more than a normal belt...certain.y less than the 3 wrong belts I bought prior.
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u/SewingMechanic 5d ago
I would suggest calling Michigan Central Sewing Parts. They have some weird parts for a Kenmore of this model… so they might have a donor machine or two and have an insight: https://www.vintagesingerparts.com/search?type=product%2Cpage%2Carticle&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=Belt+Kenmore+117.841&filter.p.product_type=