I need some opinions.

My lathe is 2 years old, been used a lot. It was hard to shift speeds and
the spindle was slipping. I opened up the case and found..a lot of dust.
When I got that out of the way, I found that the moveable side of the sheave
wasn't moving very well. The shaft was clean, so I just sprayed on some dry
lubricant, on both shafts. Immediate improvement.

But... I also noticed that at low speed, spindle sheave fully closed, that
the belt was running about 1/4" to 3/8" below the rim of the sheave. The
belt was tight. On high speed, spindle sheave fully open, the belt was
slipping. And the belt was running about 1/8" proud of the motor sheave.
There were no cracks or breaks in the belt.

I suspect that I may have worn off a bit of width over time, so the belt
seats lower than it used to. Writing this, I realized that I didn't check
that the spindle sheaves were fully closed, or if they were ALMOST closed.

Do I need to replace the belt? If I do, can I safely use a link belt?

Opinions and experience would be welcome.

Walt Cheever

Walt Cheever wrote:
I need some opinions.

My lathe is 2 years old, been used a lot. It was hard to shift speeds and
the spindle was slipping. I opened up the case and found..a lot of dust.
When I got that out of the way, I found that the moveable side of the sheave
wasn't moving very well. The shaft was clean, so I just sprayed on some dry
lubricant, on both shafts. Immediate improvement.

But... I also noticed that at low speed, spindle sheave fully closed, that
the belt was running about 1/4" to 3/8" below the rim of the sheave. The
belt was tight. On high speed, spindle sheave fully open, the belt was
slipping. And the belt was running about 1/8" proud of the motor sheave.
There were no cracks or breaks in the belt.

I suspect that I may have worn off a bit of width over time, so the belt
seats lower than it used to. Writing this, I realized that I didn't check
that the spindle sheaves were fully closed, or if they were ALMOST closed.

Do I need to replace the belt? If I do, can I safely use a link belt?

Opinions and experience would be welcome.

Walt Cheever


I would replace it with a link belt. Mine runs quieter and seems more
efficient with the link belt. Plus it shows no sign of wear on the
sides, and I had replaced the original twice with regular belts before
changing to the link belt.

--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

Yield to temptation, it may not pass
your way again. - L. Long





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"Walt Cheever" wrote in message
news:Eouag.733733$084.555748@attbi_s22...
I need some opinions.

My lathe is 2 years old, been used a lot. It was hard to shift speeds and
the spindle was slipping. I opened up the case and found..a lot of dust.
When I got that out of the way, I found that the moveable side of the
sheave wasn't moving very well. The shaft was clean, so I just sprayed on
some dry lubricant, on both shafts. Immediate improvement.

But... I also noticed that at low speed, spindle sheave fully closed, that
the belt was running about 1/4" to 3/8" below the rim of the sheave. The
belt was tight. On high speed, spindle sheave fully open, the belt was
slipping. And the belt was running about 1/8" proud of the motor sheave.
There were no cracks or breaks in the belt.

I suspect that I may have worn off a bit of width over time, so the belt
seats lower than it used to. Writing this, I realized that I didn't check
that the spindle sheaves were fully closed, or if they were ALMOST closed.

Do I need to replace the belt? If I do, can I safely use a link belt?

Opinions and experience would be welcome.

I never gave my original belt a chance to wear. I replaced it with a link
belt almost immediately, based upon the recommendations of others. It has
worked fine ever since. I turn about two hours per day--not a lot, but a
good test of the belt, which is showing no apparent wear after almost two
years. FWIW . . .

Max

The belt on my 1442 seems to be 3/8 wide. It has had a lot
of use so maybe it's just worn down. I can only find 1/2
link belt replacement. Will this work?

"Walt Cheever" wrote: (clip) can I safely use a link belt? (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Link belt is better, for the following reasons:
1.) Belt does not take a set, so it will run smoother.
2.) Belt length can be fine tuned to match the requirements of your Reeves
drive. You want the belt to use the maximum travel of the movable side of
the motor pulley--not bottoming out at low speed, nor rising past the rim at
the highest speed setting. Link belt length can be changed in 1/2"
increments. Regular V-belt comes only in 1" increments. Besides, with
non-link belt, you what to buy a different belt to try a different length.
3.) If you stall the lathe, and damage a short part of the belt, you can
replace a few links--you don't need to replace the whole belt.
4.) It is never necessary to disassemble the lathe to change a link belt.

On Wed, 17 May 2006 00:47:32 GMT, "Walt Cheever" wrote:

Mine has looked "loose at high speeds since new but never seems to slip or
anything... (thought I wish I could make it loose enough to slip)

I've had a couple of feet of 3/8" link belt handy for 6 months but so far the
belt seems fine..

I probably put what would be a lifetime of hours on the 1442 in a few months and
abuse it occasionally but the only problems I've had were the need to lean and
lube the pulley slide shafts or whatever they are and the worm gear on the shaft
that goes to the speed handle..

I've had the handle come off twice, but it's a 5 minute fix once you get the
belt cover off..

One of the times that I had the belt cover off, I ran a bead of silicon over the
mating surfaces of the lathe and cover and it's been much quieted now... amazing
how annoying a vibration buzz can be and how much it adds to the general noise
level..

When I run the lathe at high (2,000+) speed with the cover off, the belt appears
to loop upwards and looks very loose, but doesn't seem to be...
If the belt ever breaks or I get the nerve to cut it off, I'll see if the link
belt is any different...


I need some opinions.

My lathe is 2 years old, been used a lot. It was hard to shift speeds and
the spindle was slipping. I opened up the case and found..a lot of dust.
When I got that out of the way, I found that the moveable side of the sheave
wasn't moving very well. The shaft was clean, so I just sprayed on some dry
lubricant, on both shafts. Immediate improvement.

But... I also noticed that at low speed, spindle sheave fully closed, that
the belt was running about 1/4" to 3/8" below the rim of the sheave. The
belt was tight. On high speed, spindle sheave fully open, the belt was
slipping. And the belt was running about 1/8" proud of the motor sheave.
There were no cracks or breaks in the belt.

I suspect that I may have worn off a bit of width over time, so the belt
seats lower than it used to. Writing this, I realized that I didn't check
that the spindle sheaves were fully closed, or if they were ALMOST closed.

Do I need to replace the belt? If I do, can I safely use a link belt?

Opinions and experience would be welcome.

Walt Cheever


Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

On Wed, 17 May 2006 06:52:42 -0400, LBledsoe wrote:

The belt on my 1442 seems to be 3/8 wide. It has had a lot
of use so maybe it's just worn down. I can only find 1/2
link belt replacement. Will this work?

NO...

The saw shop that I bought my 1442 sold me 1/2" link because they thought that
was the size it took...
I got it home and held it against the Jet belt and it was obviously too wide, so
I bought a couple of feet of 3/8" for when I decide or need to change the
belt...
From comments today, I think I'll probably cut the old one off and go to link
this weekend..

BTW: I had no experience with link belt, so I kept the 1/2" and put it on my
Ridgid 14" band saw... Immediate improvement in noise level and (I think)
vibration..

Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

On Wed, 17 May 2006 22:34:23 GMT, "Leo Lichtman"
wrote:


"Walt Cheever" wrote: (clip) can I safely use a link belt? (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Link belt is better, for the following reasons:
1.) Belt does not take a set, so it will run smoother.
2.) Belt length can be fine tuned to match the requirements of your Reeves
drive. You want the belt to use the maximum travel of the movable side of
the motor pulley--not bottoming out at low speed, nor rising past the rim at
the highest speed setting. Link belt length can be changed in 1/2"
increments. Regular V-belt comes only in 1" increments. Besides, with
non-link belt, you what to buy a different belt to try a different length.
3.) If you stall the lathe, and damage a short part of the belt, you can
replace a few links--you don't need to replace the whole belt.
4.) It is never necessary to disassemble the lathe to change a link belt.

#4 is THE reason that I have the link belt handy, Leo...

After reading the instructions for changing the belt on the Jet 1442, (which
strongly suggested having a dealer doing it), I decided that the ONLY way I was
going to change the belt would be to put link on it..

I can just imagine trying to disassemble the headstock, bearings, etc. in my
dusty, shavings filled garage... and hoping to get it together properly with no
lost parts..
Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm