Flexco Lacing Chart & Identification Chart: What to Check Before You Order

Flexco Lacing Chart & Identification Chart: What to Check Before You Order

I'm a material handling equipment specialist at an industrial supply company in the Great Lakes region. I've handled 200+ rush orders in 12 years, including same-day turnarounds for aggregate and mining clients. In March 2024, a plant called at 2 PM with a conveyor down. Their maintenance team had a 36-hour window and no part number. They had a worn piece of Flexco lacing and a photo. We ordered the right splice because we used the Flexco lacing chart the same way every time. No guessing.

Here's what I want you to realize before you scroll: the five minutes you spend with a caliper now is the cheapest insurance you'll find. I've seen the alternative cost people a full shift. The prevention point matters because most splice failures are avoidable.

What's the Difference Between a Flexco Lacing Chart and an Identification Chart?

They sound similar, but they're not the same. The Flexco lacing chart is a selection tool. You input belt thickness and pulley diameter, and it tells you which Flexco fastener to use, which tool kit you need, and often the maximum or minimum belt tension range. The identification chart is a reverse-engineering tool. It helps you look at an existing piece of lacing and match it to a product family.

You need both if you're responsible for an older conveyor. Last year, I had at least six calls where the caller used a lacing chart to try to identify an old clip. It didn't work. The selection chart won't help you identify a mystery clip. The identification chart won't tell you if a clip is right for a high-tension system. Match the tool to the job.

How Do I Read a Flexco Lacing Chart?

First, find belt thickness. Use a caliper, not a tape measure. If the belt thickness isn't on the chart, you haven't measured the right point—or you're looking at a different lacing family. Then check minimum pulley diameter. The chart will list this for each fastener size. If the pulley is too small, the splice will flex too much and crack. Finally, check the model and confirm the installation tool.

If your belt thickness sits between two sizes, go to the larger fastener. That's a rule of thumb that has saved me more than once. In Q2 2024, a client had a 7/16-inch belt and wanted the R5 because that's what they found in storage. The chart showed the R5 topped out below that thickness. We shifted them to the next size and avoided a premature splice failure.

What Are the Most Common Mistakes People Make?

Honestly, the biggest mistake is ordering from memory. The second is measuring belt width instead of thickness. Belt width affects price, not lacing size. The only dimensions that matter for lacing selection are belt thickness and pulley diameter. The third mistake is ignoring the pulley diameter line. A lacing can fit the belt thickness but fail on a small pulley.

I still kick myself for an early mistake: I once ordered from a photo and ignored the pulley diameter. The lacing fit, but it was over-flexing on a small pulley. The fix cost us $800 in extra freight. Now I write the pulley diameter on every work order.

How Can I Tell if My Lacing Is Actually Flexco?

Look for the Flexco company logo on the clips, hinge pin, or carton label. Flexco and Alligator brand lacing usually has the logo stamped directly into the metal. The part number is on the carton label and often on the strip. But you should still verify dimensions. A logo is a sign, not a spec. There are reboxed and lookalike products out there; the identification chart is based on dimensions so you can catch a mismatch before it becomes an emergency.

One of our internal rules after a 2023 mix-up: positive ID before price quote. If we can't see the logo or measure the part, we don't quote it as a current part number.

What If the Flexco Company Logo Is Worn Off?

This is the situation I get called about most. The brand mark is gone, but the lacing is still in one piece. Don't panic. Measure belt thickness, fastener width, clip pitch, and hinge pin diameter. Compare those to the identification chart. Clear photos with a ruler in the frame help a lot.

I'm not a Flexco engineer, so I can't speak to every metallurgical difference between models. What I can tell you from the supply side is that dimensions are the most reliable evidence when the logo is missing. If two chart entries match the measurements, use minimum pulley diameter to break the tie.

The prevention angle here is simple: photograph the lacing before it goes to scrap. That one habit saved us a 3-day delay last year.

Can I Identify Flexco Lacing from a Photo Alone?

Sometimes, but not always. A close-up of the clip pattern can tell me if it's an Alligator-style or staple-style lacing. A photo of the carton label is even better because it usually has the model number and size. But a photo without a ruler or coin for scale is basically useless. I've had people email me a photo and ask how long the piece is. I can't measure from a photo unless there's something in the frame.

Use the photo as a starting point, then confirm with the lacing chart. The photo is evidence, not a spec.

What If I Need to Identify Lacing in a Real Emergency?

When a line is down, you don't have time for a long back-and-forth. My routine after 12 years of rush orders is:

• Take a photo with a coin or ruler before you remove the lacing.
• Measure belt thickness with a caliper and write it down.
• Note the pulley diameter.
• Look for the Flexco company logo or any size stamp.
• Call your supplier and read them the measurements, not your guess.

That routine came from a mistake. We once removed a failed splice and sent it to scrap before taking a photo. The identification chart narrowed it down, but we still wasted a day double-checking the clip pitch. It would have taken two minutes to photograph. Five minutes of verification beats five days of correction.

What About Part Number Changes and Older Charts?

Part numbers change. I have mixed feelings about that. On one hand, you don't want manufacturers to change specs often. On the other, a changed part number usually means a better product. The problem is that your internal charts don't update automatically.

As of January 2025, Flexco's published lacing charts and identification charts are available at flexco.com. Verify current specs before ordering. I can only speak to my own market—mid-size industrial customers with predictable maintenance schedules. If you're a temporary contractor with no procurement team, the verification steps are even more important.

This worked for us, but your situation might be different. If you don't have access to the original equipment, ask the maintenance crew for the oldest photo they have. And if you landed here looking for 'Second Congress' or 'how to make pothos', I can't help with either. But if you need to identify Flexco lacing, the chart plus the four measurements above will get you there.