# What is this? Not a "V-belt" pulley! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304 "2025-06-30T14:58:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/1 "2025-06-30T14:58:05Z")
I bought something almost identical to this eBay offering, at an antique store. (Mine has a different number and letter cast into it, but in the same spots, and all other details I can see match.) What is it?? eBay says it’s a pulley for V belts. But there is no groove for the belt to fit into. It’s not a pulley for flat belts, either, as its outer face is not crowned. And idlers are never this big and narrow. I’m wondering if it could be a flywheel. I’ve seen similar offerings that DO have the V belt groove. Perhaps a pulley maker decided to also offer flywheels, which they make simply by skipping the groove cutting process? > **[Vintage 6 Spoke Pulley Flywheel #4862 V-Belt Antique Industrial Wheel For V...](https://www.ebay.com/itm/376337979838?_skw=antique%2Bpulley&itmmeta=01JZ0N3WKZXVX689KBQS95EH73&hash=item579f7dd9be:g:4Z0AAeSwhe9oTTaP&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fIDO31IXSjUegIjtYy5RMaByUgxxH0AJRBV7d4NzwigLW6FpXyouNswiswrR4bAWtiAD2WQ7D6%2FgqS7lQncjfS%2BveKesKpxfpZFamS%2FB1VqY8YNtdBhhpd29mgp2KhCKs5xgS1PgEGMf5y8vve6lJFcqz3sqHGusmy9HjwE1xUNsuRS%2BhdgWAS3Yyn81EhDYo44oIvPPwVTkP9RsBpaYZwqZy4IkFCUNzJrT5OtHDfMHpJkdGgqXkT9Lz4gKPTfKlUEYQcFNUtFWZ0qc8ewCEpsaaKJpjPZr7Mh59VKG3wSg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7zKj5X4ZQ)** > > Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage 6 Spoke Pulley Flywheel #4862 V-Belt Antique Industrial Wheel For V Belt at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products! ---
**Author:** ![DaveUnknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/2 "2025-06-30T15:00:09Z")
Deleted b/c “FQ” I dont have the EXACT answer for that EXACT part ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/3 "2025-06-30T15:16:03Z")
WAG: Valve handle (think **Poseidon Adventure** ). Looks like a big ass set screw on the hub; slip it on a valve, tighten the set screw, Bob’s yer uncle. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/4 "2025-06-30T16:05:23Z")
Far to light to be a useful flywheel, and a flywheel would not use just a round hole with a set crew to hold it on. It would more likley also have a keyway to keep it locked onto the shaft if it were a flywheel. Its a valve or doorway handle. as @burpo_the_wonder_mutt mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/5 "2025-06-30T16:33:32Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > valve or doorway handle Sailors scrambling to use wheels like this to close and seal a hatch on a sinking ship, damaged submarine, etc are a familiar film scene. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/6 "2025-06-30T18:27:08Z")
Handwheel rims are always rounded. They don’t have sharp corners. I don’t think that can be it. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/7 "2025-06-30T19:27:00Z")
Certainly the rounded comfort handwheel is a refinement of the non rounded, uncomfortable version of the same. Perhaps cost was more important. Or it’s for occasional use like for a railcar brake. Or culvert diverter. Or the leather wrap is lost. Or the overmolded rubber grip. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/8 "2025-06-30T19:48:35Z")
Or simply put, its just an antique version of the modern, round edge version. Also note that it is held onto a shaft with a single set screw, not a very dependable design. I’d hate to try and open a hatch in an emercency situation and have that set screw “slip” on the shaft. Maybe there was a flat spot in the shaft that mated with the setscrew, maybe not. A lot of earlier designs didn’t get improved until people died. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/9 "2025-07-01T01:57:09Z")
Is it an even diameter like 12" or 14"? Looks like a wheel for a bandsaw to me. > **[NBS: Band Saw Wheels](https://www.amazon.com/stores/NBS/page/32C4F1C9-3870-4D93-BFDA-B6FEB55FE815)** > > In stock! National Band Saw has been producing low priced, high quality bandsaw wheel replacements for top brands for over 60 years. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/10 "2025-07-01T06:40:49Z")
Just a guess, but I have similar pulleys on my band saw. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/11 "2025-07-01T12:59:02Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Looks like a wheel for a bandsaw to me. > [@Dereknocue67](#): > > I have similar pulleys on my band saw. Hey, you just might be onto something!! I have a small inexpensive modern bandsaw, and, though its wheels are lighter and a bit smaller, they’re quite similar. The rubber tire seems simply glued on. Thank you!! ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/12 "2025-07-01T14:19:38Z")
The more I think about it, the better the bandsaw pulley suggestion sounds. In fact, maybe a year ago I bought a pulley that I guessed was for flat drive belts, but now I’m thinking it’s a big old bandsaw pulley, too. It’s 26" in diameter, with a 1.5" flat face, and that face is ribbed circumferentially, about like corduroy cloth. Now I think those ribs help hold a (missing) rubber tire in place. In fact, it looks just like the pulley in this eBay offering, including the 8 spokes, except for the missing tire: > **[24" Bandsaw Wheels, antique parts | eBay](https://www.ebay.com/itm/356426665667?_skw=antique%2Bbandwheel&itmmeta=01JZ35C64ZD4HPAVMRJPXATA1B&hash=item52fcaf4ec3:g:BYwAAOSwK6VndbFT&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fcSYmcJDUCw5JnajLr%2BRF9jUs4Lnk6b8BynBuJ3TAYwGC358jIxBf%2BKfjKpOjBcE5Bq6SSvB44V1e3zE7qV8gRD6R2WYLqEvwHamsXbpJ9wHp7kY82r2%2Fo4TXdii%2BXw1u%2BeLS2a%2B4Mv0fW4dze1Zof7PYI2lkSOik3oq5UdhCjTOzc2CDtGbxaNtOHJLWU3KkHL52VhGqOzFPr%2BIX2Ea5hFZ9Aso9fCtciWPQlK9%2Fhkh7zdibBRHkoaqgvdHIcSGeiGkSa9IDqqpsAmsMrL840GExtzecMRspe84Fr%2BRMR%2Fg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_zjsOX4ZQ)** > > 24” metal band wheels suitable for diy sawmill build. Can be shipped from United States as well ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-not-a-v-belt-pulley/1020304/13 "2025-07-01T16:34:22Z")
And bandsaws for cutting metal do not use tires at all. Just the flat face.