Timing Belt Sprockets
Profiles: HTD (3M, 5M, 8M, 14M), GT/GT2/GT3 (2M, 3M, 5M, 8M), Trapezoidal (XL, L, H), Poly Chain GT Carbon (8M, 14M)
Mounting: QD bushing, Taper Lock bushing, pilot bore, set screw
Materials: Aluminum, steel, cast iron, stainless steel
Brands: Gates (PowerGrip, Poly Chain), Continental/ContiTech (Blackhawk)
In Stock: Same-day shipping from Houston
Timing belt sprockets (also called timing pulleys) are the toothed drive wheels that mesh with timing belts to create positive, no-slip power transmission. Unlike V-belt sheaves that rely on friction, timing belt sprockets engage each tooth individually, delivering exact speed ratios and precise positioning for indexing, packaging, printing, conveyor, and motion control applications.
Texas Belting stocks timing belt sprockets in every profile family we carry belts for: HTD, GT/GT2/GT3, trapezoidal (XL, L, H), and Poly Chain GT Carbon. This means you can source matched belt-and-sprocket sets from a single supplier, with the confidence that the tooth profiles are compatible. We also carry the QD and Taper Lock bushings needed to mount sprockets to your shafts.
Shop by Sprocket Profile
Sprocket Profiles Compared
Each sprocket profile is engineered for a specific tooth form, load capacity, and application range. The sprocket profile must match the belt profile exactly. This table summarizes the four families Texas Belting stocks.
| Profile | Details |
|---|---|
| HTD | Pitches: 3M, 5M, 8M, 14M. Tooth: Curvilinear (semicircular). Load: Medium to heavy. Use: General industrial, conveyors, packaging, pumps. The most common industrial profile worldwide. Matches HTD belts. |
| GT / GT2 / GT3 | Pitches: 2M, 3M, 5M, 8M. Tooth: Modified curvilinear (Gates). Load: Higher than HTD at same pitch. Use: Servo motors, precision positioning, high-torque drives. Matches GT belts. |
| Trapezoidal | Pitches: XL (1/5"), L (3/8"), H (1/2"). Tooth: Trapezoidal (angled). Load: Light to medium. Use: Instrumentation, office machines, light industrial, OEM. Matches XL, L, H belts. |
| Poly Chain GT | Pitches: 8M, 14M. Tooth: Modified curvilinear (Gates). Load: Very high (replaces roller chain). Use: Heavy conveyors, mining, high-HP industrial drives. Matches Poly Chain belts. |
Quick Reference: Belt Pitch to Sprocket Match
Use this table to find the correct sprocket for any timing belt pitch Texas Belting stocks.
| Belt Pitch | Required Sprocket |
|---|---|
| 3M (3mm) | HTD 3M sprocket or GT3 3M sprocket. Confirm profile before ordering. |
| 5M (5mm) | HTD 5M sprocket or GT3 5M sprocket. Most common industrial timing belt pitch. Confirm profile. |
| 8M (8mm) | HTD 8M, GT3 8M, or Poly Chain 8M sprocket. Three different profiles at this pitch. Confirm which one. |
| 14M (14mm) | HTD 14M or Poly Chain 14M sprocket. Used on heavy-duty, high-HP drives. |
| XL (1/5" / 5.08mm) | XL trapezoidal timing pulley. Light duty and instrumentation. |
| L (3/8" / 9.525mm) | L trapezoidal timing pulley. Medium duty industrial and OEM. |
| H (1/2" / 12.7mm) | H trapezoidal timing pulley. Heavy duty machine tools, compressors, large conveyors. |
Sprocket Mounting Options
Timing belt sprockets are available with several mounting methods depending on the application, sprocket size, and maintenance requirements.
| Mount Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Pilot Bore | A rough-bored hub that gets machined to the exact shaft size on site or at a machine shop. Common on smaller sprockets. Set screw and keyway secure it to the shaft. Low cost, but not easy to swap between shaft sizes. |
| QD Bushing | Removable tapered bushing. One sprocket fits many shaft sizes by swapping the bushing. Fast installation and removal. Standard on medium to large industrial sprockets. Most common in North America. |
| Taper Lock | Split tapered bushing with compression bolts. High concentricity and torque capacity. Preferred on European-standard equipment and food/pharma applications where stainless steel bushings are needed. |
| Set Screw / Clamp | Direct mount to shaft with set screw, keyway, or clamp collar. Common on small XL and L pulleys and light OEM equipment. Simple and inexpensive. |
Sprocket Sizing Basics
When ordering a timing belt sprocket, you need four pieces of information:
1. Profile family. HTD, GT3, trapezoidal, or Poly Chain. Must match the belt profile exactly.
2. Pitch. The tooth-to-tooth spacing (3M, 5M, 8M, 14M, XL, L, H). Must match the belt pitch.
3. Number of teeth (grooves). This determines the pitch diameter and speed ratio. The belt part number tells you the minimum sprocket tooth count. Larger sprockets (more teeth) are gentler on the belt and allow higher speeds. Smaller sprockets (fewer teeth) create tighter wraps and may reduce belt life.
4. Belt width and sprocket flange width. The sprocket must accommodate the belt width you are running. Standard sprocket widths are designed for specific belt width ranges. Check the sprocket specs to confirm the belt width is within range.
For complete guidance including speed ratio calculations, minimum tooth counts, and common mistakes to avoid, see our Timing Belt Sprocket Selection Guide.
Sprocket Part Number Decoder
Timing belt sprocket part numbers encode the profile, pitch, tooth count, and belt width. Formats vary by manufacturer, but these examples cover the most common patterns.
| Example | What It Means |
|---|---|
| P24-5M-15 | 24 teeth, 5M (HTD) pitch, 15mm belt width. Pilot bore. |
| P36-8M-20 | 36 teeth, 8M (HTD) pitch, 20mm belt width. Pilot bore. |
| 8MX-36S-21 | 8M GT3 profile, 36 teeth, 21mm belt width. Gates PowerGrip GT3 format. |
| 24XL037 | 24 teeth, XL pitch, 3/8" (0.37") belt width. Trapezoidal. |
| 30L075 | 30 teeth, L pitch, 3/4" (0.75") belt width. Trapezoidal. |
| 8MPC-36-21 | 8M Poly Chain, 36 teeth, 21mm belt width. Gates Poly Chain GT Carbon format. |
Not sure what you need? Send us the belt part number and we will identify the matching sprocket.
Brands We Carry
| Brand | Products |
|---|---|
| Gates | PowerGrip timing pulleys (HTD, GT3, trapezoidal), Poly Chain GT sprockets. Industry standard for synchronous drive components. |
| Continental | Blackhawk sprockets for HTD and industrial timing belt profiles. Strong metric and heavy-duty selection. |
We cross-reference between Gates, Continental, Martin, and other sprocket manufacturers. Send us any part number and we will confirm the match.
Common Applications
| Application | Typical Sprocket Profile |
|---|---|
| Packaging machines | HTD 5M/8M or GT3 5M/8M. Pilot bore or QD. |
| Conveyor systems | HTD 5M/8M. QD mount for easy maintenance. |
| Printing/converting | GT3 5M/8M for precise registration. Pilot bore. |
| CNC/machine tools | HTD or GT3 5M/8M. Matched to spindle and axis drives. |
| Servo/stepper motors | GT3 3M/5M. Pilot bore or clamp hub. High precision. |
| Food processing | Stainless Taper Lock mount. HTD or GT3 with food-grade belt. |
| Heavy industrial/mining | Poly Chain 8M/14M. QD or Taper Lock. Replaces roller chain. |
| Light OEM/instrumentation | XL or L trapezoidal pulleys. Set screw or pilot bore. |
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a timing belt sprocket and a timing pulley?
The terms are used interchangeably. "Sprocket" is more common for curvilinear profiles (HTD, GT, Poly Chain), while "pulley" or "timing pulley" is more common for trapezoidal profiles (XL, L, H). Both refer to the toothed wheel that meshes with a timing belt. At Texas Belting, we use both terms depending on the profile family.
Can I use an HTD sprocket with a GT belt?
No. HTD and GT tooth profiles are shaped differently even at the same pitch. HTD teeth are fully semicircular. GT teeth have a modified curvilinear shape that distributes load across more of the tooth surface. Running a GT belt on an HTD sprocket (or the reverse) causes accelerated wear, noise, and drive failure. Always match the exact profile family. See our Tooth Profiles guide for a visual comparison.
How do I determine the number of teeth I need on my sprocket?
The number of teeth determines the pitch diameter and speed ratio. More teeth means a larger sprocket and slower output speed (for a driven sprocket). Fewer teeth means a smaller sprocket and faster output speed, but also sharper belt wrap that can reduce belt life. Each belt profile has a recommended minimum tooth count. Our Sprocket Selection Guide covers tooth count selection and speed ratio calculations.
What is the difference between pilot bore and QD mount sprockets?
A pilot bore sprocket has a rough-bored hub that needs to be finish-machined to your shaft diameter. It mounts with a set screw and keyway. A QD (Quick Disconnect) mount sprocket accepts a removable tapered bushing, so one sprocket can fit many different shaft sizes by swapping the bushing. QD is faster to install and remove, which is a major advantage for maintenance. Pilot bore is less expensive upfront and common on smaller sprockets.
My belt says "8M" but I see HTD 8M, GT3 8M, and Poly Chain 8M sprockets. Which one do I need?
If your belt is marked "8M" or "HTD 8M," you need an HTD 8M sprocket. If it says "8MGT" or "GT3," you need a GT3 8M sprocket. If it says "Poly Chain," you need a Poly Chain 8M sprocket. These three profiles are not interchangeable despite sharing the 8mm pitch. Check the belt marking carefully, or send us the belt part number and we will confirm the right sprocket.
Can I buy a belt and sprocket set together?
Yes. Tell us the belt profile, pitch, tooth count, width, and required shaft bore sizes, and we will quote a complete drive package including belt, sprockets, and bushings. This is especially useful for new builds or full drive replacements. Request a drive package quote.
Can Texas Belting cross-reference timing belt sprocket part numbers?
Yes. We cross-reference between Gates, Continental (Blackhawk), Martin, and other manufacturers. Send us the part number from your existing sprocket and we will confirm the equivalent in stock. You can submit a part number here or call 888-203-2358.
Do timing belt sprockets need flanges?
Flanges help keep the belt tracking straight on the sprocket and prevent it from walking off during operation. Most standard sprockets come with flanges on one or both sides. On a two-sprocket drive, the general rule is to flange the smaller sprocket (or both). On multi-sprocket drives or idler setups, flange placement depends on the belt path. If your sprocket does not include flanges, aftermarket flanges are available for most sizes.
