Can a link belt replace a ribbed belt?

The ribbed belts are called serpentine belts. It sounds like you already have your answer though.

-- -- Rick M.

No, you can’t. Not without replacing the pulleys too.

-- "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." - Mark Twain

Linked belts don’t do much on some machines in terms of vibration reduction so I would make sure it’s really worth it before you start changing pulleys etc.

-- Dwight - "Free legal advice available - contact Dewey, Cheetam & Howe""

Unless you’re suffering from extreme vibration caused by the ribbed belt and pulleys (highly unlikely) , you have nothing to gain by changing them : ) The Power Twist is for V-belt pulleys.

-- When did quiet and quite become the same word ? I'm guessing about the same time as your and you're did.

Changing pulleys isn’t going to happen. I just happened to have some link belt on hand. I was under the impression that a link belt reduces vibration and gives a smoother operation to whatever is being driven.

I slapped a link belt on my Harbor Freight jointer and it did seem to improve things.

A link belt will offer smoother operation than a v-belt that’s got problems, but it won’t do much for a belt that’s performing well.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....