If you put the holes for the wire staple on the flat (upper side) of
the belt and install it so that the ends of it are at the lower reduced
radius, the belt won't "tick" as it will ride above the bottom of the
pulleys, and no ticks!  Make sure that the belting you use doesn't
bottom out on the pulleys or else it will tick.  The walls of the pulley
are what grip the belt, anyway, so nothing is gained by it bottoming out.

The method of using metal "staples" to join theses belts together is a
method that is as old as dirt!  There are no glues strong enough to cut
the mustard in that regard, at least as far as I know.

The belt I installed was one size larger than the original and it works
like a champ as it rides above the bottom of the pulleys, but well within
the walls of the pulley so it can't jump off.  It was also ordered from
McMaster-Carr.

This belting has a profile to it.  The flat (more or less) upper side
is such that if you punch the holes on that flat upper side the belt
ought to position itself properly on the pulleys.

Bob Hodge