C Section V-Belts

Q: What size is a C section V-belt?

C section V-belts are 7/8 inch top width and 17/32 inch deep. This is the heavy-duty classical section covering 15 to approximately 100 HP. CX cogged belts have the same dimensions with raw edge and molded cogs.

Q: How do I find my C section belt part number?

Measure outside circumference and subtract 4. Example: OC 124 inches minus 4 = C120 wrapped or CX120 cogged.

Q: What is the difference between C and CX V-belts?

C is wrapped with fabric cover. CX is cogged with raw edge and molded notches. Both are 7/8 by 17/32 inch and fit the same sheave. CX delivers 20-30% longer life and handles smaller sheaves (7.0 vs 9.0 inch minimum).

Q: When should I use C section vs. D section?

C handles 15-100 HP per belt. D handles 50-250 HP. If design HP exceeds C capacity with multiple belts, move to D. D requires 13.0 inch minimum sheaves. For the overlap range, narrow wedge 8V may be more practical.

Q: Can I convert a C section drive to narrow wedge?

Yes. A 4 x C drive might become 2 x 5V or 2 x 8V. Requires new sheaves. Texas Belting provides conversion calculations. Call 888-203-2358.

Q: What is Gates Predator and when do I need it instead of CX?

Predator uses aramid (Kevlar) cords for extreme shock loads where CX fails: crushers, hammer mills, oil field equipment. Fits the same sheaves. Costs more but survives extreme conditions.

Q: Does Texas Belting stock C section belts for same-day shipping?

Yes. C and CX in popular lengths from all major brands ship same day. Longer lengths above C180 may need 1-3 business days.

4471 products

C section V-belts are the heavy-duty workhorse of the classical V-belt family. With a 7/8" top width and 17/32" depth, C section belts handle drives from 15 HP to approximately 100 HP, covering the power range where light and medium duty sections (A and B) run out of capacity. C section belts are standard on large air compressors, industrial blowers, heavy conveyors, crushers, screens, and high-horsepower pump drives across mining, manufacturing, and process industries.

Texas Belting stocks C section V-belts in both wrapped (C) and cogged (CX) construction from Gates, Continental, Bando, and Diesel Belting. Same-day shipping on stocked lengths from Houston.

7/8"Top width

17/32"Depth

15 to 100 HPPower range

9.0" min sheaveC wrapped (7.0" for CX)

Need a C or CX belt? We stock the full range. Send us the part number.

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C (Wrapped) vs. CX (Cogged)

Both C and CX belts have identical dimensions (7/8" x 17/32") and fit the same C-groove sheaves. CX is a direct drop-in upgrade.

Feature	C (Wrapped)	CX (Cogged)
Construction	Fabric cover on all surfaces	Raw edge sidewalls, molded cogs on underside
Minimum sheave OD	9.0"	7.0" (allows smaller sheaves)
Flexibility	Standard	Higher. Especially important on C section where the thicker belt is stiffer.
Heat dissipation	Standard	Better. Critical on high-HP drives that generate more heat.
Service life	Standard	20-30% longer on most drives
Efficiency	94-96%	Up to 2% higher
Cost	Lower	10-20% higher (offset by longer life)
Sheave	C groove	Same C groove. Fully interchangeable.

CX is especially valuable on C section. C belts are thicker and stiffer than A or B, which means the bending stress at each sheave is higher. The cogged construction reduces this bending stress significantly, resulting in a proportionally larger life improvement on C section than on lighter sections. On heavy-duty drives running near maximum HP, CX should be considered the default, not the upgrade.

C Section Part Number Guide

Part Number	Type	Inside Length	Outside Circ.
C51	Wrapped	51"	55"
CX51	Cogged	51"	55"
C68	Wrapped	68"	72"
C75	Wrapped	75"	79"
C81	Wrapped	81"	85"
CX81	Cogged	81"	85"
C90	Wrapped	90"	94"
C96	Wrapped	96"	100"
C105	Wrapped	105"	109"
C120	Wrapped	120"	124"
CX120	Cogged	120"	124"
C144	Wrapped	144"	148"
C158	Wrapped	158"	162"
C180	Wrapped	180"	184"
C210	Wrapped	210"	214"
C240	Wrapped	240"	244"

How to calculate: C section part numbers use inside length. Measure outside circumference (OC) and subtract 4 to get the part number. OC 124" minus 4 = C120 or CX120.

C Section vs. Neighboring Sections

Feature	B Section	C Section	D Section
Top width	5/8"	7/8"	1-1/4"
Depth	13/32"	17/32"	3/4"
HP range	1 to 25 HP	15 to 100 HP	50 to 250 HP
Min sheave OD	5.4"	9.0"	13.0"
Best for	General industrial, HVAC, medium drives	Heavy duty compressors, blowers, crushers	Very heavy duty, mining, large pumps
Narrow wedge alternative	5V	5V or 8V	8V

C section bridges the gap between general industrial (B) and maximum duty (D). If your drive's design HP exceeds B-section capacity (roughly 25 HP per belt) but does not require D section (50+ HP per belt), C is the right fit. For compact drive designs requiring maximum power per belt at the C-section HP range, 5V or 5VX narrow wedge belts deliver equivalent or higher capacity with fewer belts and smaller sheaves. See our V-Belt Selection Guide for more help choosing between belt types.

Common Applications for C Section V-Belts

Application	Typical HP	Wrapped or Cogged?
Large reciprocating air compressors	25 to 100 HP	CX strongly recommended. Pulsating loads and heat.
Industrial centrifugal fans and blowers	20 to 75 HP	CX recommended. High speed, continuous duty.
Crushers and screens (aggregate)	30 to 100 HP	CX or Gates Predator for extreme shock loads.
Heavy conveyors (bulk material)	20 to 75 HP	Either. CX for continuous duty. Consider banded for multi-belt drives.
Large centrifugal pumps	25 to 100 HP	Either. CX for continuous duty and hot environments.
Paper and pulp machinery	25 to 75 HP	CX recommended. Continuous process duty.
Hammer mills and shredders	30 to 100 HP	CX or Predator. Heavy shock and pulsating loads.
Large HVAC air handlers (commercial/industrial)	15 to 50 HP	CX recommended. Warm mechanical rooms, continuous operation.
Mining equipment (auxiliary drives)	25 to 100 HP	CX or banded CX. Dusty, harsh environment.
Agricultural grain handling	15 to 50 HP	C standard. CX for high-utilization harvest operations.

Multi-Belt C Section Drives

Many heavy industrial drives use 2 to 6 C-section belts in parallel on multi-groove sheaves. At the 50 to 100 HP range, it is common to see 3 or 4 C belts running together. The same rules apply as for all multi-belt drives:

Replace the full set every time. Never mix new and worn C belts.
Use matched sets manufactured to tight length tolerances.
Consider banded belts if the drive experiences belt turnover, vibration, or uneven wear. Banded C belts are common on compressors and crushers.
Consider narrow wedge conversion if you are replacing sheaves. A 4 x C drive may convert to 2 x 5V or 2 x 8V, reducing belt count, maintenance, and drive width.

Upgrade Options for C Section Drives

Current Situation	Recommended Upgrade	What Changes
C wrapped belt wearing out too fast	CX cogged	Belt only. Same sheave. 20-30% longer life.
Multi-belt C drive with turnover or vibration	Banded C or banded CX	Belt only. Same sheave. Eliminates turnover.
C drive exceeding capacity, need more HP	Move to D section (classical) or 8V (narrow wedge)	Belts and sheaves. Requires drive redesign.
Want fewer belts and more compact drive	5V or 5VX narrow wedge	Belts and sheaves. 2 x 5V may replace 3-4 x C.
Extreme shock loads destroying belts	Gates Predator (aramid cord)	Belt only. Same sheave. Aramid survives shock that breaks standard belts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is a C section V-belt?▼

C section V-belts are 7/8" (22 mm) top width and 17/32" (13.5 mm) deep. This is the heavy-duty classical section covering 15 HP to approximately 100 HP. CX cogged belts have the same dimensions with raw edge sidewalls and molded cogs for improved performance.

How do I find my C section belt part number?▼

Measure the outside circumference (OC) and subtract 4 to get the inside length, which is the part number. Example: OC 124" minus 4 = C120 (wrapped) or CX120 (cogged).

What is the difference between C and CX V-belts?▼

C is a classical wrapped belt with fabric cover. CX is a cogged (raw edge) belt with molded notches. Both are 7/8" x 17/32" and fit the same C-groove sheaves. CX delivers 20-30% longer life, better heat dissipation, and handles smaller sheaves (7.0" vs. 9.0" minimum). CX is especially beneficial on C section because the thicker belt generates more bending stress.

When should I use C section vs. D section?▼

C handles 15 to 100 HP per belt. D handles 50 to 250 HP per belt. If your design HP exceeds C capacity even with multiple belts, move to D. D requires larger sheaves (13.0" minimum). For heavy drives in the overlap range (50-100 HP), multiple C belts or narrow wedge 8V may be more practical than D depending on available space.

Can I convert a C section drive to narrow wedge?▼

Yes. A multi-belt C drive can convert to 5V or 8V narrow wedge with fewer belts and smaller sheaves. A 4 x C drive might become 2 x 5V or 2 x 8V depending on the HP. This requires new sheaves. Texas Belting provides conversion calculations. Call 888-203-2358 with your drive specifications.

What is Gates Predator and when do I need it instead of CX?▼

Gates Predator uses aramid (Kevlar) tensile cords instead of fiberglass. It is designed for extreme shock load applications where even CX cogged belts fail prematurely: crushers, hammer mills, oil field equipment, and heavy construction. Predator fits the same C-groove sheaves. It costs more than CX but survives conditions that destroy standard belts. See our Gates V-Belts page for more details.

Does Texas Belting stock C section belts for same-day shipping?▼

Yes. Texas Belting stocks C and CX section belts in the most popular lengths from Gates, Continental, Bando, and Diesel Belting. In-stock belts ship same day from Houston. Longer lengths (above C180) may require 1 to 3 business days. Call 888-203-2358 to check availability on your specific length.

V-Belt Drive Components

C and CX belts require C-groove sheaves. The sheave groove must match the belt section. Browse our V-belt drive components, or see our Sheave Selection Guide for help choosing the right one.