Gearmatic 8a clutch bands

[Ray III]

Can anyone confirm whether the Gearmatic 19 clutch bands are a direct fit for the 8a? I see suggestions of this on the interweb, but nothing concrete.

[Lavoy]

To my knowledge they are not.
Lavoy

[Ray III]

Alright, thanks Lavoy. I guess I will try contacting the people making bands for the 19 and ask about the 8a.

If anyone has a direction to point me in for getting a new or used primary clutch band that would be great. (The secondary band looks like it might be in there in need of a new lining.)

[Paul Buhler]

Ray: I replaced my 8a clutch band linings using McMaster-Carr brake banding. I went to their catalogue and did a best guess match to what was already there. I used a high temp epoxy and drilled and installed rivets at 120* apart too. The rivets are recessed. I used lots of clamps since I didn't want the finished job to be eccentric.
I didn't get them perfect, but with fiddling and a few attempts, I've got the winch pulling in reasonably strong without it winding in on its own ( getting a working and even gap between the clutch and the band was a challenge). My gap is about .020, bigger than spec, but it works.
My brake band was bought new-old-stock.

[Ray III]

The problem I had was my primary (narrow) band was missing, so a re-line was out. I did find replacement relined bands. The new material was gray and smooth without any inclusions and looked like it was formed right on the band, but it could be bonded, I don't know.

Champion Technologies does clutch relining, but didn't have any cores to use. They confirmed that the model 8a bands are smaller than the model 19 bands.

These are the sources I found:

Davco Forestry Equipment
https://www.davcoforestryequipment.com/
Has used bands available, but would have to send them out to get relined.

Harold's Logging Supplies
https://www.logging-supplies.com/
Had relined bands in stock, this is where I got them from. Also picked up a complete new slave cylinder and pushrod.

PB&H Equipment
https://pbhequipment.com/
Website is a bit odd, the phone # is 603-588-3005 if you don't see it. Didn't contact them.

Schaefer Enterprises
https://sewlparts.com/
No response to e-mail, try calling them instead.

The problem with finding the clutches is apparently they were made of cast iron in order to spring back on their own when released. You need a lot of incentive to go to the trouble of reproducing a cast part, so it's OEM or nothing. The brake band is just steel, so reproductions of these are available.

(I changed the title of this thread to make it easier to find this info)

[Lavoy]

I carry clutch and slave cylinders for 8A, cylinder rebuild kits, master control unit rebuild kits, cover gasket, plug, oring, u cup seal and nipple, brake spring and seat, new brake bands and can get clutch and brake bands relined.
I also have new brake linkage for 8G.
Lavoy