How to Replace a Treadle Belt Step By Step with Leah Day

[@sibadoba]

An essential step that most people don't know is that you're supposed to soak the belt in warm water for 15 minutes before measuring and linking the ends together. Once you get it the right length and put on the machine the belt will tighten around the pulleys to the appropriate tension. This prevents slippage during sewing.

[@Eweforia]

I would worry that the water might cause rusting on the wheels. Have you experienced any issues with this?

[@costasconstantine8681]

a great tutorial. I found my treadle machine at a thrift store yesterday, complete with all the feet, the original book, the ruffler and even the needles. I have been looking for it for around 30 years as i wanted this model( my grandmother taught me to sew on the original one 62 years ago). just looking at it brings back great memories of her and i together. the original one was lost when i was 25. the page in the book that showed how to replace the belt was missing. thank you so very much. Marilyn

[@theresatucker2604]

May I ask how much did you pay for your machine at the thrift store?

[@ravencc8778]

Thank You for this informative on installing my belt on my treadle. And the helpful comments by others has been helpful as well. Sure do appreciate ya'll from TN - happy Treadling :-)

[@ravencc8778]

p.s. I have had great success with 'Suncatchers' in ordering vintage parts and getting information on parts etc for my treadles

[@mlcampbellokie]

Thank you very much for your video about changing the treadle belt on my 1915 Singer machine. I watched and rewatched your video so I felt ready to install the belt. Very excited about installing the belt with a perfect cut. I tightened the clip and the machine worked perfect. 10 stars to you!

[@Kate-ts3xs]

Best tutorial out there!! Thank you so much!! Just got the new belt on my grandmother's 1925 Singer 66, and it's working beautifully. Can't wait to finish things up and try a few stitches! This really made my day!

[@LeahDay]

Fantastic! I'm so glad you enjoyed this video and found it helpful!

[@dioraranel]

We were having trouble getting the belt tight enough, and the rubber band trick worked perfectly. Thanks!

[@LeahDay]

Glad it helped!

[@JohnStJohn-ee7pu]

I was wondering how to change my treadle belt since I did not have a clue. Leah's video shown how easy it was to change it out. I was excited to find out that the belt that was in the sewing machine cabinet drawer wasn't broke but just needed to be install - so can't wait to make my quilt on my great grandma's machine..

[@LeahDay]

Wonderful John! I'm so so happy to have helped you!

[@geralddrives873]

Thank you so much for this step by step video that absolutely made me more confident to replace my treadle belt!

[@christophermarquez2310]

Thank you for posting this walkthrough. The tip on the clothes pin helped. Singer 29-4 here!

[@mariapropst7935]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO... MY SINGER IS DEFINITELY NEED OF A NEW TREADLE BELT... AND YOU HAVE MADE IT LOOK EASY... WISH ME LUCK! THANKS A LOT!

[@sweetyetunrefined9335]

Holy Moly I didn't realize it was going to be so hard!!! I had to shorten it 3 times, and I think I'll have to shorten it again soon. I suppose you're right though, better to have to cut more off than to cut too much

[@tomkinsky771]

Very helpful instructions, especially about what could go wrong, and how to fix it if it does. "Let's go treadle!"

[@sewesme4866]

Thank you for this wonderful video!! You are pure AWESOMENESS!

[@mike196425]

I finally got my first treadle sewing machine, it is a working Elgin treadle. Because of your video I can now put the belt on it. Thank you for your video, you explained it so well that I will be exactly copying you to put mine on. Now to figure out just how old my "new" old machine is. My daughter already claimed it as an inheritance.

[@katrinawagner6842]

This is so helpful for newbies like me!! Thank you!!!!!!!

[@bryanwyatt9829]

Very Beautiful stradivario machine. I did notice you upgraded the treadle base. The model 12 treadle wheel is soooo tiny. You realy have to treadle fast to get them going. Cool to see you put the newer base on it. I bet it is so much easier on your legs with that bigger wheel. Happy sewing

[@LeahDay]

Yep! That Singer 12 wheel was WAY too small. Even just sewing dolls and simple patchwork, it was killing my calves. I love this new base Dad found with all the guides still in tact. It's awesome!

[@mike196425]

Just ordered a treadle from our antique dealer friend, he has one but no belt so needed to know how to install it. Thank you so much for the video

[@belyndamulloy33]

That is a beautiful machine Leah. Glad you are back. Thank you for the tutorial.

[@LeahDay]

Thank you Belynda! I'm so glad you enjoyed this!

[@connieromanishan6780]

Thank you. Great instructions.

[@PKEDRM]

Thanks for the tip about using a rubber band to help with minor slipping! I just got a Decker treadle and the belt is slipping. I have been working on getting it running and I am too impatient to wait for a new belt to arrive. In the mean time I am heading to the kitchen junk drawer to get a rubber band from some asparagus my hubby pickled! Later...

[@anitawilliams577]

I need to put a new belt on mine and my sisters. Didn’t know how so thank you very much for this video. ❤️

[@LeahDay]

Awesome! I'm so happy you found this helpful!

[@KanishkaRajawansha]

Thank you very much.. putting those clips was really smart idea. You saved my day.

[@patnordmark5222]

Pro tip: since the belts will stretch with use, I like to put the non-clip end on the floor, step on it, and give it a good stretch before putting it on the machine.

[@JanRiordan]

Thanks .. so clear and detailed. All correct, but the cord is sliding on the big wheel. Treadle operates the big wheel, machine wheel operates needle and big wheel, but the big wheel doesn't turn the machine wheel and keeps sticking. Just oiled connection points. I've tried the bobbin wind clip and makes no difference. Tried tighter .. tried elastic band on machine wheel so cord doesn't slip. Do you have any ideas please? Its a retro SINGER from the 70s .. .seems to be in lovely condition. No clips on the big wheel.

[@benamarhabiba2006]

Thank KZbin ahaha merci très bien expliqué LÉAh day

[@LeahDay]

You're welcome!

[@mjsews]

Nice machine! You can also use a fine drill bit to drill a hole in your belt, it's a bit easier than using a nail. Thanks for all your helpful videos!

[@LeahDay]

Yeah... I thought of that, but figured the nailing would be a bit less intimidating. Now I just want to get the special pliers and be done with it!

[@sofievanherle4570]

The suggestion of putting a rubber band was REALLY HELPFUL! THANKS SO MUCH! When do you know it's really time to replace it? I've just shortened mine because it started slipping (it's really old...) but it started slipping again just two weeks later, and a lot worse than before. Since we're currently having a heat wave and I've had the windos open a lot, I'm wondering if that has something to do with it, but on the other hand, this is my grandmother's machine, and the belt has probably not been replaced in ages... my grandmother died over 30 years ago and I never heard my mum say she had replaced the belt. My mum died 7 years ago, and I have only started sewing now, to make face masks. For the time being, I think it works again thanks to your suggestion to add some rubber bands on the wheel, but any advice is welcome.

[@LeahDay]

You probably won't need to replace the belt, just tighten it. Check the place where the belt comes together and see if you can use pliers to pull the ends tighter together. Leather does stretch out over time which is probably why it's slipping. I only change a belt if I'm changing machines in my treadle cabinet or if it has snapped.

[@sofievanherle4570]

@@LeahDay Thanks for your reply. I did already shorten it a few weeks ago, and it worked fine after that, but then it started slipping again. I was wondering whether it was because of the heat wave that we're currently having... For the time being, It's OK again, as I added some elastic bands around the wheel. The grip is fine again now.

[@battymaria16]

Great video. My machine has a treadle and also motor. Do you run both bands at the same time in two channels on the hand wheel, or take one belt off to use the same channel for the other band?

[@dsarah3]

Thanks! Very helpful!!!!!

[@LeahDay]

You're welcome!

[@rachealfields3389]

Thank you! I have been nagging my husband for weeks to do it! Maybe I can do it myself

[@LeahDay]

Yes, you definitely can do this yourself!

[@graceful555]

Thank you so much!!

[@noyteera599]

Thanks for sharing , I have a Singer treadle

[@SAScheidt]

Thank you, this is good to know as I have a treadle too!

[@LeahDay]

That's great! Treadles are so much fun!

[@tstires1]

Do you need to remove the belt when you fold down the sewing machine (into the housing unit)?

[@LeahDay]

It really depends on the machine and the table. For this table in this video, there was no drop down option. This table was designed with a Coffin Top to cover the machine which wasn't with it when I bought it from an antique store. I would assume most will need to pop the belt off the drive wheel, hence why later treadle bases made belt guides with springs to make that job easier. Just keep in mind that putting the belt on is far more time consuming (cutting, setting the clip, punching the hole, etc). Once it's connected and the right length, it should pop on and off the drive wheel very quickly.

[@owenprince4823]

Always keep the short belts because you can use them to add in with another metal clip. That means you can save the ones that you cut too short. You will have two metal clips but that is ok. It works fine. I have used a needle and thread instead of the metal clip because the thread does not make a clicking sound and is more flexible around the wheel. Mostly I use the rubber belts now as there are a lot of things I like about the rubber belts. I found a metal belt on the internet in the form of coil spring. Did you get your singer 237 working yet???

[@LeahDay]

That makes a lot of sense Owen! Thank you for sharing. I have the 237, but I need to adjust my table opening to be very slightly larger and then I'll get it set up. It's been on my list for a month, but just not at the top of the list!

[@karenhogue8443]

Owen I'm still in the beginner stages of treadling trying to keep the hand wheel going in the right direction but I chose a rubber belt and the 237 to practice on first!

[@christinegregg9450]

Awesome

[@bettyboop6196]

Where did you order your belts from?

[@danc2234]

Good tutorial, Leah. I'm curious about the belt thickness though. The amazon description says it's 3/16 but the belt you're holding looks more like a quarter inch or even 3/8. Can you possibly confirm its thickness for me? Some of the comments on amazon say the belt is way too thin for their machines.

[@LeahDay]

Mine are definitely 1/4-inch thick. I'd look for another seller, possibly on Ebay, selling 1/4-inch thick leather belts instead.

[@oluyemiolubunmi4859]

Thanks so much. When I start the machine, the belt was removing. What's the cause?

[@LeahDay]

It might have gotten worn out and broken. You can try splicing it together or just get a new belt.

[@joemug4079]

Thanks

[@Sewingmachineworkshop1]

🙂👍👍

[@mariavicente6787]

Olá, querida Leah!

[@LeahDay]

Olá! Espero que esteja tendo um dia maravilhoso!

[@mariavicente6787]

Sim, obrigada!

[@saratourand2374]

What if it's not moving the needle ? 😬 I got my great grandmas machine and I bought a new belt for it and I'm trying to get it working... I followed these steps and the belt actually seems a little tighter than the one in your video... It doesn't work though., ... It's also very squeaky and hard to push the peddle, do some models have a lock or something? 😬

[@saratourand2374]

The little wheel on the singer does move the needle when I spin it though

[@LeahDay]

It sounds like the hand wheel might be loosened like it was set up for winding bobbins. Look for a manual for your machine online and also learn how to oil it. If it's squeaky, that's a call for oil!

[@dimostziger3328]

hi!nice machine!you can do a video to see how you work on your feet with the pedal!i have one too but the way is a difficult🤔🤔🤔thanks very much!im from grecce!

[@dimostziger3328]

you would help me a lot if you made such a video!thanks😀😀😀😀😀

[@marykelley434]

You can view how to treadle on Rain Country. Heidi has one on KZbin.

[@matildairekponor3339]

Well the belt that came with the machine was very stiff after a few days . I broke the clip and then I got this twine like thin rope I fixed it and it’s even worse . The ropes moving but the wheel isn’t !!!!!! 🥺 .

[@patnordmark5222]

Another pro tip: put the end of the belt on the block of wood and give it a couple of good bashes with the hammer to flatten it before you make the hole.

[@LeahDay]

That's a great tip! Thanks Pat!

[@matildairekponor3339]

Isn’t