2l6 SCIENCE OF SUCCESSFUL THRESHING 



The holes to fasten the ends should be punched in line 

 with the lace holes so that they will be in the right place 

 when the belt is cut off and they become lace holes. The 

 best way to fasten an end is to draw it into a small hole, 

 then back through the same hole, cutting off the end to 

 leave about one-half inch. New belts stretch considerably 

 the first few days and the ends of the lacing should not be 

 cut off short until the stretch is taken out of the belts, so the 

 same lacing may be used for re-sewing. If the belts have 

 become wet and shrunk, the lacings should be let out before 

 putting them on. If very tight, they cause undue friction 

 on the bearings, making them heat. Then, too, tight belts 

 have been known to cause the breaking off of a shaft. 



Lacing Stitched Canvas Belt. A stitched canvas belt, 

 though highly satisfactory in other respects, is often con- 

 demned because the lacing will not hold. It can, however, 

 be laced in several ways that are satisfactory. In any 

 event, the holes for the lacing must be made with an awl 

 and not with a hollow punch, which cuts off many strands 

 and greatly weakens the belt. The tine of an old pitchfork 

 makes a very good awl for this purpose and the oval shape 

 will be found convenient. The holes must not be nearer 

 the end than seven-eighths of an inch or nearer the edge 

 than five-eighths of an inch. 



The lacing illustrated is perhaps the best for canvas 

 stitched belts, and threshermen having the running of 

 these belts in charge are advised to practice making this 

 lacing some rainy day until they can make it without diffi- 



